Independent Record Stores
Hold Congress Accountable
RECEIVED Mon., May 10, 2004
Dear Editor,
Both major political parties spend a lot of time these days pointing fingers at numerous elected officials and expect voters to support their special interests demanding various resignations. Recently it was the president under scrutiny. Lately, Rumsfeld has all eyes upon him. If we want to hold elected officials accountable for their actions, we should start with our Congress. These are the folks that brought the Iraq War into everyone's living room. Without sufficient factual documentation, members of Congress (both parties) approved to give the president what he asked for. The president received congressional blessings to do whatever he wanted "a la carte blanche." As history shows us, that was a big mistake.
It's not enough that Americans focus on one or two individuals for their unprofessionalism or inept administration. Congress needs to hold its members accountable for what has happened since the 9/11 tragedy. If anything, Americans would do well to demand that Congress censure its own members. Our Congress did not act professionally when they unanimously accepted President Bush's ultimatum to invade Iraq. Bush and company lobbied hard and pressured both parties to accept his terms. Congress approved the war without requesting the factual proof corroborating all that the administration cited against Iraq and the Hussein family. In addition, elected officials approved the president's terms against the advice of America's allies. The U.S. dramatically and irrationally went to war without a real game plan once the invasion and occupation were completed, and now it pays the steep price in lives and tax dollars for the rash approval given by an emotional and impatient Congress.
If the American people want accountability, they need to hold the president and our Congress equally responsible.
Both major political parties spend a lot of time these days pointing fingers at numerous elected officials and expect voters to support their special interests demanding various resignations. Recently it was the president under scrutiny. Lately, Rumsfeld has all eyes upon him. If we want to hold elected officials accountable for their actions, we should start with our Congress. These are the folks that brought the Iraq War into everyone's living room. Without sufficient factual documentation, members of Congress (both parties) approved to give the president what he asked for. The president received congressional blessings to do whatever he wanted "a la carte blanche." As history shows us, that was a big mistake.
It's not enough that Americans focus on one or two individuals for their unprofessionalism or inept administration. Congress needs to hold its members accountable for what has happened since the 9/11 tragedy. If anything, Americans would do well to demand that Congress censure its own members. Our Congress did not act professionally when they unanimously accepted President Bush's ultimatum to invade Iraq. Bush and company lobbied hard and pressured both parties to accept his terms. Congress approved the war without requesting the factual proof corroborating all that the administration cited against Iraq and the Hussein family. In addition, elected officials approved the president's terms against the advice of America's allies. The U.S. dramatically and irrationally went to war without a real game plan once the invasion and occupation were completed, and now it pays the steep price in lives and tax dollars for the rash approval given by an emotional and impatient Congress.
If the American people want accountability, they need to hold the president and our Congress equally responsible.
Peter Stern
