"A Bleak and Hostile Landscape of Diminishing Opportunities"

Melissa McEwan deftly points out the turd floating in the punchbowl:

I would just like to take a moment to note the irony that members of Congress, who are at the best times reluctant to do something wise but unpopular for fear of losing their jobs, are now avoiding like it's radioactive any legislation that would legitimately stand to create actual jobs or help unemployed people, because they don't want to lose THEIR jobs and have to try to make it out there beyond the Beltway where their own craven self-interest has created a bleak and hostile landscape of diminishing opportunities.

There are only so many openings at the lobbying firm of McGuire, Dickstein, & Thanks for Your Help Deregulating Those Pesky Consumer Protections.

Once upon a time, back in elementary school or junior high, I learned that the ancient Greeks, I think, had a system of representative government in which every citizen had to take a turn at serving as a delegate or member.  Such a system today would neatly remove the incumbency/re-election motive that seems to drive 75% 95% of all Congressional efforts.