“There is good news from Washington today. The Congress is deadlocked and can't act.”

As ever, Will Rogers has it right even after all these years. As I age I find that ambivalence is more and more my state. Congress is deplorable, never changes, just the faces, and even they blur. Ignore and go on with your life still seems a cop-out. History tells us that no government is forever, but some "countries" have lasted much longer than others. Egypt, China, and India come to mind. They count thousands of years to our hundreds, yet we don't really study them in toto. We marvel at the pyramids, great wall, Taj Mahal yet know nothing of the ethos. That must tell us something.

J.B, the great experiment of our founders was jumped on since the day of its birth because it had the potential of surpassing the good of any other form of government that ever existed and its destruction was of paramount importance to those who didn't and don't mind the restrictive forms that are practiced by those nations you speak of. I believe the ethos (religious or moral beliefs) of these nations were incorporated within the intent of the founders but it is a fact that the ethos of those nations today which speak of love, tolerance and respect of individual life are not practiced by their governments which our form of self government finally allowed for to happen. Obviously this has not been the case and we now have a government that has reverted to the old and present forms of government that in many ways have similarities with the present day governments of the nations you spoke of. 5 stars for the quote because in truth the best government over men is the one that governs the least except in the situation of our unique constitutional form of self government which, based on personal responsibility, implies the best government is the one that governs the most.

Okay maybe fun stuff, but totally unuseful to intelligent and serious debate. And maybe even hurtful. Neat insight Anon "self government = government that governs the most governs the best". It is time we had self-government in this country that starts us looking at ourselves rather than ridculously blaming everything on others (congress) and start indiviually and collectively paying our honest debts, National Debt etcetera.

In Texas, the Senate and House meet for 140 days once every 2 years. This could be a good idea for The U.S. congress. A better idea for Washington would be to convene for 2 days every 140 years. P.S. Waffler, get a sense of humor, please.

Waffler, by the government's own edicts (unconstitutional supreme court decisions, executive orders, and legislative rules), it has declared itself a sovereign foreign entity distinct and separate from We The People. By and on that one issue, your perceived 'National Debt' is different than mine so I do not fit into your "our". The quote's humor touches on a very valid point.

Mike and Jim, Waffler never waffles on his far left-of-center views and no sense of humor!

That would be good news today, wouldn't it?

A sense of humur is a wonderful thing. Knowing what funny is is a wonderful thing. It depends on what the definition of is is and that is funny. Bashing and laughing at Congress like a bunch of idiots is not funny. It is sad very sad indeed and most shallow and perverse. I may be a bit earnest but I find many Jim, Carlton, Mike and others to be just a little bit to hip. I'll take earnestness to hipness every day. I am earnest because I believe in what I say and write.

Waffler, you know that "indiviually and collectively paying our honest debts, National Debt etcetera" is not what I meant. If anything our government owes us a whole lot more than you think we owe them. How about that allegiance to their oath they took for starters.

I guess Anon is one of those with his hand out for the government largesse all of the time. Anon remember "don't ask what government can do for you but ask what you can do for government" that may be self-government to the max. One thing we can do is pay off the National Debt.

Waffler humor works because of the presents of truth. The line was very funny in its day but now it has lost some of its humor because instead of the required grain of truth we get the whole bag of dirt. Waffler I do not get how you think we as individuals are to start paying our collective debts when your jack ass party is so intent on spending money 10 times faster than we could possibly pay it back.

Waffler, take away the power of international banking to charge interest on money it creates out of thin air with absolutely nothing to back its value, return it to the treasury department to create and put into circulation based on the GNP interest free and we would have no national debt. As it stands now the national debt can never be paid off because we must borrow at interest to pay off the interest already owed. It's called perpetual debt and the system exists only because Americans allow it to exist and economic slavery is the end to its means. The best thing we all could do for our country is to throw the economic slave masters out of power but unlike me and a minoity of others, who holds their hands out for nothing we don't work for, most Americans can't wait for our current government to hold its hands out to international banking for its next hand out, at interest of course.

Waffler must be one of the slave masters. You wouldn't be a congressman would you Waffler?

Warren we can write, call and petition our Congressmen to cut spending and to increase taxes and do what ever it takes to balance the budget and pay down the debt that we have incurred. We have aided and abetted Washingtons frivolousness by electing tax cutters like Reangan and Bushes who did nothing but sell us down the river of debt. We elect these guys we must hold them accountable.