It's Independence Day and around the nation 100 United States Senators are eating shrimp cocktails, drinking champagne or possibly boating off Martha's Vineyard, while literally millions of Americans, who have lost their unemployment benefits, are on the brink of total financial collapse. Millions more are on such tight budgets that they can't find much to celebrate because they know they are next. Add to that a million more that know they will soon lose their jobs unless a few of 41 Senators, that have filibustered the jobs bill, decide that their livelihoods are worth saving.
It is unconscionable that Leader Harry Reid adjourned for 10 days with so much left undone. In the last 60 days the Senate has taken 24 days off. We are in the middle of one of the worst economies in generations and we can't seem to get this Senate to work longer than a few weeks at a time before they need a week off.
Americans are getting evicted, losing their homes, their autos are being repossessed and their utilities are being turned off while their representatives take nearly a month off. States are preparing to shed jobs including an estimated 150,000 teachers. One would think that our leaders would see this as an national emergency, but instead the take 10 days off for the 4th of July.
These are they same leaders that asked American families to send their sons and daughters overseas to fight and die for this country, to sacrifice for the greater good of our nation but when they have an opportunity to sacrifice for this nation what do they do, they go on vacation.
It's a sad commentary that we have such weak leadership from both parties. Lawmakers spend too much time away from the people that they are suppose to represent, they have lost all sense of perspective and don't seem to understand the perils that millions of American are facing.
We deserve better, Mr. Reid, the American people deserve better leadership than you are providing.
Happy Fourth of July