Bill McIntyre

December 6, 2007

To:  Friends of Responsible Government
Subject:  Whoa!  

Dear Friends,

                Whoa; a term used to slow down or stop a horse.  Woe; pronounced the same but with similar results.  Yesterday our comical (would be if it wasn’t so darn serious) PA House of Representatives experienced both Woe and Whoa.

                In this morning’s Harrisburg Patriot-News front page; the lead headline read:  “House session turns to chaos.”  So, what else is new!  It appears every session of the House is chaos.  We could bill it as Harrisburg’s House of Comedy; but it’s not funny.

                Woe over the lack of gun control prompted 16 Representatives to whoa the proceedings and walked off the floor ending the day’s session of the House.  Oh woe is me and every other resident of Pennsylvania.  I’m reminded of a child throwing a tantrum because he/she didn’t get his/her way.    

                Second paragraph of the article by Charles Thompson and Jan Murphy reads:  “A day that was supposed a triumph for reform and good government devolved into a chaotic mess marked by whirling rumors and partisan finger-pointing, resulting in nothing getting done.”

                Sounds like an average day in Harrisburg to me.  What’s the problem?  The largest full time and most costly Legislature in the United States is conducting business as usual.  I, along with many others, would be amazed if they did anything at all other than dedicate a special day for a special occasion or name an insect the State Insect (until the next session).

                Upset?  Na!  I’ve been a resident all my live and am used to nothing getting done.  I feel sorry for the folks who might have moved to Pennsylvania expecting a better live.

                Session day after session day further illustrates a desperate need for a Constitutional Convention.  Since we presently have a part-time legislature we’re paying full time; why not continue business as usual and pay them part time? 

                What are we getting from the majority of our 253 Senators and Representatives and their 3,000 support staff?  The shaft!  But, that’s business as usual here in Pennsylvania.  Just take another blood pressure pill and relax.  It’s the way of life here.

                In the real world, no business managed like our state government is managed, could survive.  But then, no business can legally remove money from your wallet and/or purse in an attempt to cover-up their sins of no management.

Oh woe is me,

Bill McIntyre
Just took a pill and am awaiting cocktail hour as - I live in Pennsylvania