Congress does not suffer from stress

I'm not sure how you measure stress, but it is a fact that, when compared to Europeans, Americans put more time in at work and have less vacation time.

However, there is an exception to this condition: the U.S. Congress.

These guys work less (a three-day week) and they have multiple, lengthy vacations throughout the year.

In sum, there is no "sense of urgency" among these folks to get the nation's business taken care of.

Why is this so? And why do we taxpayers tolerate it?

Because there is no sense of urgency, year after year, the same problems persist in the nation.

Be it health care reform, simplification of the tax code, solidifying the Social Security System, illegal immigration, creating energy independence, or whatever -- the same problems persist year after year after year without resolution.

Members of Congress posture and they jabber, jabber, jabber and nothing gets done.

There is tinkering around the edges of a problem, but not with the problem itself.

This has been true with Democrats in control and with Republicans in control.

If there was a similar lack of purpose, seriousness, and resolve during the WW II era, the U.S. would have lost the war and we'd all be speaking German now.

My theory is that unresolved issues create the illusion of a need for us to keep these self-important folks in their well-paid jobs.

If the problems were ever resolved, we might think that our representatives and senators could just be sent packing.

Also, when problems seem to be lumbering toward resolution (as with the Mideast War), the political types endeavor to create new problems to scare taxpayers and provide them with reasons to keep politicians in office.

Keeping citizens dependent upon government is a key political strategy.

Their incessant babbling, posturing and imposition of more taxes won't solve that problem any more than it will solve the other problems that go on for years without resolution.

Why do we taxpayers put up congressional inefficiency?

Well, among other things, many taxpayers are "tuned out" because they've long ago lost confidence in their government.

There is also a sense of helplessness insofar as our, collectively, being able to change things.

As a result, too few take the time to monitor governmental affairs, too few communicate their views to elected representatives, and too few actually vote.

It is urgent for our problems to be solved -- if we are to forestall further decline in our great nation.

One can only wish our elected leaders might think so too.

Charles F. Falk

Schaumburg