Questions about Congress

To the Editor

I admit that in the past, I have voted for candidates I knew nothing about.

I was oblivious to political issues most of my life. I still have a hard time understanding some of the issues today.

It's difficult to sort out the truth from fiction.

I didn't know that Congress exempted itself from Social Security until after it happened. I also didn't realize that Congress made Social Security part of the General Fund and then spent the money.

I wasn't aware that Congress voted to provide itself with lucrative retirements and health benefits beyond what I can afford with my tax dollars.

I admit to becoming irritated with I asked my representative a question by e-mail and received a "canned" response having nothing to do with my question.

I didn't realize that Congress spends 75 percent of its time worrying about getting re-elected, 20 percent of its time listening to special interest groups and 5 percent of the time listening to constituents.

I didn't understand that my representatives might be willing to put "the Party" before the American citizen.

It never dawned on me that our government would allow 12 million people to enter our country illegally and reward them for doing so, yet punish me for not wearing a seatbelt.

I keep asking myself, "Where have I been? How did things get so bad? How did I allow a Congress that works for me to become a Congress that I work for? How did I allow them to burden me with tax upon tax upon tax? How did I allow them to become so careless with my money and even spend money I don't have?"

Well -- here we are, a debtor nation, "God" and "Christmas" have become bad words.

We now depend on government to provide all answers, all benefits.

We punish success and reward failure.

The government of the people, by the people and for the people has become the government above the people.

What happened?

Who is to blame for this mess?

I fear, it is me.

Mike Collins,

West Terre Haute