Gridlock is problem in politics, economy

It's true. Gridlock is the real problem with both politics and the economy. The cause is we voters ourselves.

We seem to confuse “Separation of Powers” with automatic gridlock. Voting for senators from both parties most of the time seems to mean that we don't know what we want, so we get gridlock. We also vote for a senator of one party and a president of another. Results, gridlock. Then we vote out our judges, apparently expecting them to change the law. Nonsense! Judges don't make the law. They weigh the law against the Constitution. Congress is who must change the law (or its state equivalent).

Our chosen elected officials are not, however, blameless. They must remember to represent all the people, not just those who voted for them. A majority vote is not a mandate to do anything except to use their best judgment, keeping all the people in mind.

Do I advocate voting a straight ticket? Certainly not. Get rid of the bad apples. Vote for new promising candidates. Then vote your party. Try to vote for a team who will do the job you want done.

Allow the president, Congress and courts to be the “Separation of Powers” that has worked well except for the recent past.

And do vote.

Carroll L. Duncan

Cedar Rapids