Tea Party Terrorists Seek US Shutdown

"It's a good gig being
in Congress."

A Tea Party Republican Senator,  newly-elected Ted Cruz (Texas), and several other Tea Party types have suggested that US Government should shut down until Congress agrees to massive budget cuts. Unless they get their way, these guys would be satisfied to see our country default on its obligations 

A typical terrorist tactic:  hold the government and the country hostage until some Tea Party Republicans get what they want. These people just took an oath of office to govern and promote the general welfare of the country. Now they choose not to govern, but to shut down the US Government, and  allow the United States to default on its obligations. If a Muslim said he wanted to shut down the US Government, he would be snatched off the street and  imprisoned. When Senator Ted Cruz says the same thing, those who wrote the Patriot Act have no problem with it, as he is one of their own. And we wonder why so many around the world consider us hypocrites?

Instead of shutting down the US Government, I would suggest we start saving money by shutting down our "do-nothing" Congress or at least cutting Congressional salaries and perks. As the 112th Congress demonstrated, in recent years they do nothing for the General Welfare of the country other than  maneuver to get re-elected and take care of their special-interest donors. And, face it, these cats have a nice gig. I suspect one of Senator Ted Cruz's first actions as a Senator was to sign up for his first-class government-provided health care and retirement benefits.

If the Tea Party Republicans are serious about cutting the budget and reducing the national debt, they should lead by example and cut some of the nearly $6 billion per year spent on Congressional pay and benefits. (This is a rough estimate calculated by "examiner.com" 9/14/2012. It may well be higher.)

If Congress froze their salaries and eliminated their perks, we might actually think they are really interested in serving the best interests of our country.

As it is now, the 112th Congress, which all agree did nothing, cashed in on the following:

1. A base salary of $174,000 which will increase another $900 in April.
2. Days on the job: 137 out of a possible 260 working days.
3. An "allowance" for maintaining a staff  ($900,000 on salaries) and office expenses ($250,000)
4. Fully furnished office space.
5. Health benefits for life.
6. Pension ($50,000) for life and 401 (k) and Social Security.
7. Free life insurance.
8. Free travel between Washington and home district as often as they choose.
9. Free "fact-finding"  trips anywhere in the world.
10. A $3,000 tax deduction for any expenses incurred outside of their home districts.
11. Free parking at the Capital and at Washington airports.
12. Free meals in the legislative dining hall.
13. Free child daycare.
14. Free US Mail service, the so-called "franking" privilege.
15. In addition, they have an array of "exemptions" -- insider trading and TSA rules, etc.

However, the most significant exemption is: Congresspersons are "exempt from a government shutdown."  So Ted Cruz, newly-elected Tea Party Senator from Texas, can call for a "Government Shutdown" knowing full well that he will continue to receive his salary and perks, while the janitor who works eight hours a day in a federal office building will not receive her check.

This is a far cry from what our founding fathers had in mind. They envisioned dedicated citizens stepping forward to serve and sacrifice for the General Welfare, not hypocritical ideologues padding their bank accounts.