THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
A recent study by the University of California indicates that more than 60 percent of American voters are disenchanted with our Congress as they feel that Congress pays no attention to their opinions. Even worse, more than 50 percent of these voters have stopped voting as they feel that their vote has no impact on congressional action.
They see a Congress whose members cannot act civilly, maturely and respectfully toward one another. They see a Congress that cannot pass a budget within the revenues raised by a ``loop-holed'' tax system. They see a Congress unable to properly manage government affairs due to the time each member spends raising money for his/her re-election campaign. They see a Congress that will not pass promised legislation on term limits or campaign funding even though it is aware of the voters' perception of corruption and dishonesty in the present system. They see badly needed proposed legislation being put on hold because of influence peddling lobbyists or a few senators on the ``take.'' They see a Congress unable to adhere to the same code of morals and ethics that it advocates for voters in its advocacy for stronger families.
But they also see a Congress that can pass salary increases for its members while job loss and lower earnings are being experienced by the voters. They see bloated pension, health-care coverage and other perks for Congress, while it refuses to pass health-care legislation and considers reductions in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
They see idealistic, well-intentioned, young, new members joining Congress who find that they have to jettison their ideals if they are to have any impact. They see good, moderate old members - such as Bradley, Cohen, Simpson, Kastenbaum - resigning because they do not want to be part of the corrupting Washington governing process.
Isn't there good reason for Americans' disenchantment with Congress?
BERNICE L. LEVINSON
Norfolk, Feb. 2, 1996 by CNB