It’s the day before Christmas, and the only stirrings in the House are of impeachment.
The noises began in 2016. They were interrupted only briefly last Christmas, when a government shutdown provided federal workers with an extended holiday break. But the echo has finally intensified, arriving at its intended and long-anticipated crescendo. The orchestrated notes were accompanied by claims of solemnity and prayerfulness and most importantly, the need to ensure a maximum audience. The woeful announcement of the articles of impeachment had to be delayed until the morning of Friday the 13th of December, because of the great risk that no one would notice or much care if they did it late on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 12.
This last point is most worth noting, just in case Congress has not correctly calculated the damage it has done to itself as an institution. For all the apathy Congress has shown for the concerns of voters over decades past, the people are now having revenge. It is their apathy that members of Congress must unwrap this holiday season and wear as a badge of dishonor for their past misdeeds.
This did not happen overnight. With each lie sold and every promise broken, the people held steadfastly to their faith in the next season. Not unlike the spirit of Christmas, this faith served as fuel to hope for a reemergence of goodwill among members of Congress in both parties — a prayer for the rebirth of loyalty and trustworthiness, and a longing for the joy that is the result of helping someone other than yourself. The people waited and, as distasteful demonstrations in our great House grew more and more common and as the selfishness increased, the people became more and more disappointed and disgruntled.
Finally, the bad tidings and soured intentions became too much. No one cared to watch our great House fall into such absolute disarray. People no longer paid attention when members delivered dark, dismal promises of harm, whose sole, seeming intention was to elicit more dark, dismal promises of more harm. So the people have retreated into the monotony of their own lives as a welcome distraction from all the needless drama in the capital.
Sorry, Congress — America has tuned you out. When those in power betray our ideals, our principles and the fundamental nature of government of, by, and for the people, their rightful fate is to be ignored until they stop the childish behavior, extend a hand to their pretend foes, and begin to govern in earnest.
I doubt this Christmas will produce such a miracle. Maybe we’ll have to wait for a merry Christmas in the next election cycle.
Kimberly N. Meyer is a paralegal in Washington, D.C.
