Government of the People -- Without Congress

This post is no far-right tea party diatribe. But it is a statement of relief. The government at Washington still lives, as James Garfield once famously said after the Lincoln assassination tragedy. But so do the people live on -- and now without Congress as that august body is in August recess.

It's not that I disesteem the institution of Congress. In fact I do value it highly in the purpose and intent for which it was designed -- as the premiere branch of government, doing the people's business.

Instead, my observation is a simple one. Even with no Congress in session, the country seems to do quite well, perhaps better than before.

Still, returning to the previous caveat. And now with a qualifier of a more partisan nature. Unlike many, my relief is the absence of the scorching, seering and sneering ravings and rantings of nihilistic nabobs of negativism careening through the right-wing halls of Congress. The silence is sweet indeed. Suddenly there is no more the voice of Boehner and Ryan. Neither are there Cantor nor McConnell.

So for small favors we give thanks, O Lord. And in this case, I really do believe the Almighty is not slighted by being Himself associated with Relief.