Sending Kids to Congress

JUST THE OTHER DAY it happened yet again. Some fresh faced member of the United States House of Representatives lashed out, verbally, at a member of the mainstream American news media. Lit into him pretty good, like a wrathy panther. Ho Hum. Happens every day, or so it seems. If memory serves, this Congressperson was another one of those young republican guns, a latter day jesus guns and money type, all tea party, all hype, full of vim, vigor, and vinegar. And, if memory serves, this kid wasn't a day over thirty, from a bright red state. Hell, he'll be in Congress if and when the grand old plutocracy (America) celebrates its tricentennial. Another Strom Thurmond, tottering up Capitol Hill, a near centenarian, rasping laissez faire nigh unto the twenty first century. Oh, joy. The problem is, they just get started way too young, and they stay way too long. In the early years of their careers, they are brash, unthinking ideologues, all full of themselves, volcanically spewing fire and brimstone. Walking sound bytes. Then, they mellow into middle aged, tacitly reasonable legislators. But that stage doesn't last long, because before you know it they are settling into sedantary seniority, while assistants pocket corporate money like clock work, ho hum, and do all the mail outs, phone calls, and ritualistic reelection ad campaigns. By then, the electorate, benumbed, is nothing resembling an effective watchdog. Why should anybody bother? The die are cast, we all know where we stand, and further discussion seems pointless. According to the U.S. Constitution, that inconc if outdated document which came from Mt. Sanai, in ancient times, any American citizen over the age of twenty five without a felony conviction can seek election to and serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Well, and well, at least you have to be thirty years old or older to be a U.S. Senator, and thirty five to be President. Otherwise we might be electing Justin Beiber and Lady Gaga to govern us.