The Post-Journal

The House Of Representatives Acts

                                                                    Dec 28, 2024

                                                Rolland Kidder

 It came late in the day. As a matter of fact, it came just a few hours before midnight. But, last week, the House of Representatives acted…avoiding a federal government shutdown.

The last-minute vote wasn’t a total surprise, since tough votes are often not taken until deadlines are nearing. Yet, what made this one especially special is that, as first proposed, it was attacked by incoming President Donald Trump and his new surrogate, Elon Musk.

No one knows what will happen with Speaker Mike Johnson when the new Congress convenes. Because of the messy way in which this needed legislation ultimately passed, he may incur the wrath of Mr. Trump and not be re-elected Speaker of the House.

On the other hand, members of the House might again select him as their leader. The bare Republican majority in the new Congress, makes it even more difficult for the House to operate with just Republican votes. Despite being criticized for it, Speaker Johnson reached across the aisle for Democratic votes when that became necessary to keep the government running.

The big “bugaboo,” of course, in all of this, is the national debt. Congressmen and Presidents love to spend money though they don’t often like to raise the taxes necessary to pay for it. Debt financing is easier. This means that the national debt keeps going up, and that has meant that Congress has to keep raising the debt ceiling.

Mr. Trump has, from reports, suggested doing away with the debt ceiling altogether. That would give him (and any President) carte blanche power to take deficit spending to any level that they would want. Congress, rightly, wants to retain some control over the purse strings, and they should. That role is given to them in the Constitution.

A subplot in all of this is the part that Elon Musk will play in the new administration. He publicly supported Mr. Trump in the election and poured a lot of money into his campaign. At one rally, Mr. Trump, in introducing him said: “A new star is born, Elon Musk!”

Yet, Mr. Trump is also well known for not playing “second fiddle” to anyone. Musk needs to be careful and not overplay his hand.

Also, Musk is not known for listening to others even in his own business dealings. Working with the U.S. Congress is something he has never done. When it comes to politicians on Capitol Hill, he will be dealing with a different breed of cat. Members of Congress have been directly elected by the people. Congress has its own role to play and will not easily be pushed aside.

I have a hunch, but it is just a hunch, that Mike Johnson might actually survive and be re-elected Speaker in the new Congress. He is a likeable guy and seems to have fewer political enemies than many other potential candidates.

A big fight to select a new Speaker would also likely result in a non-functioning House of Representatives, as we saw two years ago when it took weeks to elect a Speaker. The winner of that particular contest, Kevin McCarthy, lasted only a few months before being ousted.

We need the House of Representatives to fulfill its role under the Constitution. There is little to be gained for the country if Congress again falls into chaos over electing a leader.

 

                                                  The Post-Journal

 

   On Being A Lucky Man

                                                                                    Dec 14, 2024

Rolland Kidder

 

I have always thought that one of the great moments in the history of sports was that day in 1939 in Yankee Stadium when Lou Gehrig addressed a crowd who knew that he was retiring because of a fatal disease. He said to them: “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

It is hard not to feel that way on Thanksgiving.

I remember how tough it was on all of us during COVID time when we couldn’t get together. We were back to full-normal this year with 22 gathered for the big day. I have been married into this family now for over 50 years and every Thanksgiving, and every year on this day, I remember those words of Gehrig.

Thanksgiving is a national holiday and for good reason. But, for me it has always been the biggest family day of the year. It is bigger than birthdays, anniversaries or virtually anything else.

I savor it, relish it, can’t wait for it to arrive and am sad when it is over. No gift giving, no great expectations, just enjoying and observing the family and finding out what everyone is doing.

We were at our son’s home in Skaneateles, New York this year–and the town always has a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. You can jog or just walk. This year it was snowing…a wet, slushy, yucky kind of snow. But, that didn’t matter. The townspeople gathered as usual along with out-of-towners like us. Somebody passed the hat for the food bank in town, there were drinks and coffee, nobody was in a sour mood. Good feelings all around. Thanksgiving.

Back at home, before we left, there had been wonderful gestures leading up to the big day. The newspaper had reported on some churches and others having organized an effort to provide Thanksgiving dinners to those less fortunate. It is heartening to see all of this happening each year.

At our Thanksgivings, the family sort of has a nonstop spontaneous discussion going on of what the past year has produced…the good and the bad, but mostly about the good. This year, the biggest news was that our oldest granddaughter is pregnant, and people were speculating about how this new addition would be the center of attention next year.

Writers can sometimes be redundant, but when it comes to Thanksgiving–I don’t care. Every year I get carried away and write about it. But, it is worth the write.

Thanksgiving always brings me back to what Lou Gehrig said. He is not alone. I consider myself to be the luckiest man on the face of the earth, and that is the truth.