Sen. Bob Corker was in Chattanooga this weekend. We welcomed him to a beautiful Chattanooga springtime respite from contentious Washington.
Washington has beautiful cherry blossoms now, the Tidal Basin, our magnificent Capitol and other monumental buildings. But our national government is a tangled morass. Washington was built on and in a swamp. Today, it is one of irresolvable problems, partisan politics, and tremendous issues that would have no “easy” answers even if all in Congress were wise, honorable and had no partisan motivations.
English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning asked Robert Browning, “How do I love thee?” — and began her answer: “Let me count the ways.” Undoubtedly, most officials in Washington love America — but they cannot count their controversial and frustrating differences.
It has been pertinently said there are two things people with sensitive stomachs should not watch: making sausage and making laws.
Among all the Washington issues, Sen. Corker was asked, what’s foremost?
The senator smiled. He’s thoughtful and patient. We might sum up his detailed comments as being “money,” where it’ll come from, where it’ll go — and how much more debt will result.
“We” want “everything” from government — except more taxes!
We have a $12.8 trillion debt, a trillion-dollar-plus annual deficit, with more demands for more spending — but “not more taxing”!
The senator was asked what we really “need” most. We need to reform “entitlements,” to reduce red-ink spending, Sen. Corker said.
Admirable Sen. Corker soon will go back to Washington, where the most-needed things frustratingly won’t be done. And we all will be left with the results.
We appreciate Sen. Corker and his conscientious efforts in behalf of our country and us all.