Shoring up the middle in Congress

The hot rhetoric on the edges of Congress’ political spectrum gets most of the attention, but it also gets in the way of action. So it’s encouraging to hear about the Center Aisle Caucus, which was founded in June and includes 20-some Democrats and 20-some Republicans. “We can disagree without screaming at each other,” Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., recently told an Overland Park town hall crowd. Good first efforts have included work toward allowing Medicare officials to negotiate lower drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and boosting soldier benefits. “I’m convinced that 80 percent of the issues we deal with in Congress should not be partisan,” said Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Lenexa — in a statement that would seem obvious if it weren’t so contrary to the polarized status quo on Capitol Hill.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

5 Comments

  1. Sudden Sense
    Posted September 4, 2005 at 4:01 am | Permalink

    Thank God, Allah, and common sense.

  2. RDLiebst
    Posted September 4, 2005 at 9:56 am | Permalink

    I am glad to read this, I was beginning to wonder if there were anyone let that was not so simple minded. As to see beyond a party and toward the real causes and problems with the Nation. I have voted my heart and mind since eighteen. For the most part that has been Republican. But lately I have seen the neo-cons and the R.R. have distroy the party and I fear that they will do the same to the country. I once heard in a movie that the middle have the real control. Here lately that statement has come into question.Nothing is solved by blaming the other side for the war, the storm, or anything else. It is the actions that are to blame and not the party. Iraq is the blame of the neo-cons, there was no reason to invade and it took the focus from the war on terrorism.

    Katrina was an act of God, the force of it may very well be because of global warning. But the re-action of the government is the real cause of the suffering. Four days to sent in the help needed? There is no excuse for thousands of people to be captive. Needing food, water and medicine and not getting it to them. There was a real cause but it was not the flooding or the storm. Was it planned or allowed is the question.Be it racism, fear that to proved food and water would make them surviors NOT want to leave. On the last one I envision someone in hell not wanting to leave because of a sip of water.

    I do not foresee the truth coming out. As Churhill said, “History will be kind to us…As we are the ones writing it”.

  3. Damoon
    Posted September 4, 2005 at 11:18 am | Permalink

    I agree, it’s time to quit finger pointing and start working on solutions, all this division and blaming in our country has been nothing but counterproductive. It’s refreshing to hear about an organization that can actually discuss issues and problem solve without hysterics and blaming. Who knows, they might actually accomplish something.

  4. NoJoCo
    Posted September 4, 2005 at 10:58 pm | Permalink

    This really is encouraging. I hope the Center Aisle Caucus grows.

  5. Jed
    Posted September 5, 2005 at 1:07 am | Permalink

    Right-wing turkeys don’t fly any better than left-wing ones.