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We the People should determine the national priorities for America. Why? Because the men and women in the House and the Senate are far removed from the significant changes that are taking place across our country.  And, none appear to have an early warning system of any kind that allows them to identify substantive shifts in thinking and focus.  Lastly, they do not give any credence to the real priorities that affect all Americans at the gut level. More worrying still, the legislative focus appears to be being driven by special interest groups and lobbyists, and not what is best for America.

The 116th Congress convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2019, and they have been in session for almost nine months.  What has been accomplished?  From my vantage point, I do not think very much.

Look at what is taking place in the House of Representatives. The Democrats are the majority party in the House. They have spent an inordinate amount of their time in using the various oversight committees (chaired by Messrs. Schiff, Nadler, and Cummings) trying to pin the tail on the impeachment donkey or bursting the impeachment pinata, without much success.  For some reason, they have jettisoned any desire to make any progress in legislation.  President Truman called the 80th Congress the “Do Nothing Congress.”  How will history judge the 116th Congress?  Perhaps the 116th Congress will be styled as “The Blind Leading The Blind Congress.” 

Let me highlight what I believe the American people want resolved or handled on a priority basis:

1. Rationalize our nation’s immigration policy and keep it simple and easy to understand.  In addition, secure our borders to prevent illegal immigrants from entering.  As a sub-goal, prepare a sensible and straightforward plan to handle the large population of illegal immigrants that are in our country at present.

2. Fix our public school system, or failing that, let the private sector take on the challenge with an expanded charter school program, coupled with school vouchers.

3. Start downsizing the Federal Government.  The Federal Government has overstepped its bounds and is doing great harm to our economy, the concept of federalism, and our rights as citizens.

4. Develop a simple plan to reduce the national debt.  Americans will do their share if they understand what is required to be done.

5. Continue eliminating unnecessary regulations that continue to burden and choke the economy.  Facilitating economic and job growth is absolutely critical to the future of America.

6. Re-engineer and simplify our healthcare system so that everyone, regardless of age or intelligence level, can understand and use it.

We the People should require that our elected representatives stop politicizing every issue.  America has to deal with these strategic challenges (see above), and they must be handled sooner rather than later.  Any politician who continues to play political games with these strategic aims should be voted out of office.  We need to elect senators and representatives who put the interests of the country first and not their re-election plans.  It is that simple and straight-forward.  What say you, dear reader?