I see that Ray Scott and Steve King are declaring a Tea Party stance of not governing nor collaborating for the good of the citizens of their districts. They will continue in the unpopular ideological “conservative” stance. Look at the approval ratings (9%) of the U.S. Congress. The U.S. voting public is tired of this tack. King uses quasi messianic language: He will save “a country and state.” From whom or what?

This type of hyperbole belies a scary mindset infused with fear mongering. Compromise? Collegiality? Public good? Don't expect anything resembling those principles from these legislators. Congratulations District 54. You get what you vote for: Fox news creations of ignorance and fear.

As for me . . . I will watch this painful excuse for leadership continue to divide with their canned rhetoric: “Increased revenue” (progressive taxing ) is an obstacle to “economic recovery and growth”; government oversight (“get bureaucracy out of the way of job creation”) prevents industry doing only good: Let's let big oil and gas do “good” completely unfettered. Remember BP and the Gulf?

Some of us ask what about educational funding to guarantee informed citizens for the future health of our democracy? Where can our community look to for needed health care for those who can't afford it? Marillac Clinic cannot serve all the needy! This shortcoming is responsible for a large proportion of home foreclosures. Decent wages for the Grand Valley's underpaid workers? Decent, economical housing for the residents of the valley? Why are these topics not part of the King/Scott discourse?

I wish us all a Happy New Year and hope that we begin to understand where the lack of imaginative and intelligent political leadership is taking us.