Election message was anti-big government

The Dec. 20 story “Dems take message to heart” reports how Iowa's three Democratic congressmen “plan to heed voter messages about controlling the deficit, fostering job growth and ending political bickering … .” After two years of Democrat-led “shock-and-awe” legislative hyperactivity resulting in the largest surge of public debt and federal bureaucracy in world history, it is well that they got the first point.

The second is one of those “politically safe” postures no one will question.

As to the third point, the recent election was anything but a referendum on “Washington gridlock.” Rather, it was a massive repudiation of a Democrat-led leftward lurch, unchecked by reasoned debate and thoughtful consideration of opposing viewpoints. Democrats misread the 2008 election as a “do whatever we feel like” mandate. That and their condescending we-won-the-election dismissal of concerns expressed by the minority party were primary factors that fueled the Tea (“Taxed Enough Already”) parties and town hall meetings. The mood was not “anti-government” but “anti-BIG-government.” The Democrats ignored the message and paid the price in November's house cleaning.

Voters want Congress not simply to get things done but to stop doing the wrong things, something elected representatives risk their political future in ignoring.

Dale Fitzgibbons

Cedar Rapids