Leadership and Action Missing in 112th Congress

Harry Reid(left)and John Boehner(right)

Harry Reid, Majority Leader of the Senate and John Boehner, Speaker of the House, deserve no better than to be pictured as the bullseye on targets that measure congressional inaction.  Both parties and both houses should hang their heads in shame for their inept handling of the major economic, security, and health issues that remain in limbo because of their failure to act.  As Lee Iaccoca famously opined, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way."  Since no substantive leadership has occurred in either house and none of the members show any ability to do so, Ham on Wry believes it's time to get out of the way.

Occupy Wall Street and all of its derivatives are still calling attention to the great disparity that exists in incomes for corporate CEO's and others in the 1% in comparison to the 99%.  Part of the reason this inequality has grown so much greater over the past 50 years lies in the fact that Congress has passed laws that helped facilitate an increasing gap.  Who wouldn't want a job in which a person can earn a salary on average 30 times greater than the average employee in the company, pocket a huge bonus by risking the money of clients, and then walk off with a golden handshake when the company either fails or another so-called leader is hired to save the day.  Financial Services firms that have grown "too big to fail" should recognize this scenario.

The biggest losers in this country are not trying to shed pounds on a TV show.  American taxpayers have wound up as the biggest losers.  We continue to fund programs that don't work, trips for Congressional members that have little to do with government, and allow these thieves to line their pockets while they serve office.  No wonder recent college graduates have difficulty handling the debts from college loan.  This Congress has done nothing to create conditions that would foster jobs here.  I have an idea.  Tax all the corporations that outsource to other countries in the same way other exports are taxed.  How many of you enjoy talking with someone in India about customer service?  Customer service for American companies belongs in the US.

For the sake of clarification, Ham on Wry assures readers that its author is neither a protectionist nor an isolationist.  We have a global economy, but our businesses in this country should keep jobs here and let other countries keep their jobs as home as well.  We'll still have many products to trade.  It appears that common sense no longer exists in government.  Job creation comes from the private sector, but the government can make it difficult to take jobs that already exist her and send them to another country.  This blog calls for Harry Reid and John Boehner to step down at the end of their respective terms and allow people to take over who have innovative ideas and leadership qualities to move this country into the 21st Century, albeit several years since the 21st Century began.  Time to get out of the way, gentlemen!