For anyone still wondering what level of contempt our political ruling class has for the American people, House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) makes it crystal clear. During a speech at a National Press Club luncheon, Rep. Conyers wondered why his fellow House members should bother to read the health care bill: “I love these members, they get up and say, ‘Read the bill.’ What good is reading the bill if it’s a thousand pages and you don’t have two days and two lawyers to find out what it means after you read the bill?”

Here’s the video: http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=51610&print=on

Some suggestions for Mr. Conyers and other like-minded Congressmen:

1. If you can’t be bothered to read something that will affect one-sixth of the American economy– before you have the unmitigated gall to actually vote on it–then you’re not doing the job you were elected to do. Resign.

2. If you “don’t have two days” to read it, perhaps it’s because the president and some of your like-minded colleagues in Congress are doing their best to get it passed before the American people can read it–and find out what a piece of garbage it truly is.

3. If you need “two lawyers to find out what it means” that implies any numbers of things. Some possibilities:
a) it’s written in “leglese” making it virtually indecipherable–which may be on purpose
b) you’re not smart enough to read bills you vote on in general
c) you believe disrespecting Americans in general, and your constituents in particular, is no big deal
d) you’re just plain lazy

Right-thinking Americans ought be furious that Mr. Conyers feels no need to hide his malfeasance or his contempt. More importantly however, they should take it as evidence that this man–and doubtlessly, many of his fellow Congressmen–is so sure no one can mount a serious challenge to his job, he feels no compunction to hide his contempt.

How can he be so smug? Because he knows Americans angry with Congress in GENERAL inevitably re-elect “their guy” in PARTICULAR.

In other words, Mr. Conyers can be despised by the majority of Americans in 49 out of 50 states, as long as he had Michigan voters watching his back. Unfortunately, Michigan voters are not alone. This scenario plays itself out in state after state, election after election.

The result? An ever-growing number of incumbents so certain of re-election they can literally ignore the wishes of their constituencies and pass critical legislation without being “bothered” to read it, or even know what’s in it.

As long as the ruling class can foster this “everybody else’s Congressman stinks, but my guy is all right” mentality within the electorate, incumbents–both Democrats and Republicans–remain largely immune from being tossed out of office.

Once again, I’ll remind Americans of my acronym for the 2010 election: G.R.O.I.N., which stands for Get Rid Of Incumbents Now.

It is not a perfect solution. Some good guys may get voted out with the trash. But the essential reality is that incumbency has corrupted the political ruling class so thoroughly, they are on the verge of ruining the greatest country in the world.

John Conyers has done America a great favor. He has pulled back the curtain and given us a peek into the mindset of a career politician.

America would be wise to force him and a host of other incumbent hacks–from both parties–to find another career.

atahlert@comcast.net

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