OMG, Congress Is Literally Dying? Former Lawmakers Say It's a Coma!

WTF Just Happened

Congress is NOT okay! Former lawmakers are basically holding an intervention, yelling that the institution is in a "coma" and barely breathing. What?! They're wrapping up the year with the longest government shutdown ever and a reputation as the least productive in, like, modern history. Are we serious right now?

A record number of politicians are just bailing before next year's elections, running for the hills, or just quitting politics entirely. It’s not just the Trump administration, folks; this mess has been brewing for AGES. What in the actual hell is going on?

Wait, HOW Did This Happen?

Okay, so how did we get here? Apparently, it's a giant dumpster fire fueled by deep polarization and — wait for it — actual death threats. Yes, you read that right. Former Rep. Barbara Comstock said people are leaving because it's dysfunctional and dangerous. Even during the Clinton impeachment, things still got done!

Then there's the power grab! Leadership has apparently centralized everything, stripping committees of their influence. So much for rank-and-file members actually being legislators, right? And the congressional calendar? A pathetic 3.5 days a week! How is anything supposed to get done when nobody's even there to build consensus? What kind of work ethic is that?!

Are We Serious Right Now?

Hold up, are we serious right now?! A former rep said Congress "has a pulse, but not many brainwaves." A coma! That’s not a good look, people!

Here’s a breakdown of what makes no sense:

• Death threats are now ROUTINE for members. Not isolated, but routine. How is this real life?!
• Leadership literally tells committee chairs what to put in bills, basically neutering their power. So much for legislative process!
• Members now spend more days traveling than actually in Washington. What. The. Actual. Hell.
• The work week was shortened to three days by Newt Gingrich in 1995 so members could fundraise more. Fundraising over actual governing?!
• Members haven't had a salary raise since 2009! While that sounds like a "them" problem, it's actively keeping good people from running. What?!
• Former Rep. Anna Eshoo felt she needed to tell a Republican colleague, "I don't view you as my enemy." ISN'T THAT SOMETHING? YES, IT IS!

Okay no, but actually HOW did we let the legislative process become so utterly broken that everything hinges on one budget reconciliation bill, and if something isn't in it, it just DIES? This is not how government is supposed to work!

So… What Happens Now?

So, what next in this legislative horror show? More people bailing, probably. Some former members are straight-up telling prospective candidates to run for state offices instead, because "they're still functioning!" Yikes.

Others are clinging to a sliver of hope, saying you can still make a difference, but it's "a beast that you can never master." Former Rep. Jim Cooper bluntly stated, "If you want a decent country to live in, we better have a good Congress." So, we need "more good people to run," but who would want this job now?!

It feels like we're just waiting for the next shoe to drop, the next government shutdown, the next crisis that Congress is too "comatose" to handle. It just feels like

"the moment we live in is much more dangerous and our politics more fractured than at any point I can remember."

— Former Rep. Charlie Dent. Yeah, that about sums it up. Still utterly confused, still no real answers.