While Congress sleeps . . .

Twenty-two months after COVID-19 leapt into the world, K Street is still in the throes of the virus. Office buildings are never full, as consultants, lawyers, and lobbyists still work remotely, deterred by random delta outbreaks, indoor mask mandates, and time-swallowing commutes. Few of the lunch counters, bakeries, cleaners, and other shops that give life even to this cheerless neighborhood made it through the lockdown, and the empty stores are bleak reminders that not everyone can work from home. For once, K Street mirrors the experience of streets and towns, large and small, across America.

Gridlock sets in

Few of the realities have made it to Congress, which continues to act as if it were sealed off from the still-glaring needs of a COVID-19-stressed country. Our elected leaders seem responsive only to the blandishments of deep-pocketed donors or primary challenges from less credible extremists—in both parties. Never has simply staying in power seemed so much more important to legislators than serving constituents’ needs or making our democratic experiment viable for the long term.

At this moment, could the Republicans have found a more sterile and pointless issue, to oppose raising the debt ceiling? Do they wish forever to be the party of ignominious “Stop the Steal” movements and voter suppression?