As I watched the impeachment debate going on for hours on Thursday, I observed an interesting phenomenon. I am no expert on politics, not a member of a political party, or particularly interested in what Congress does. However, when all of the day shows on TV were preempted to present the proceedings live, I watched.

After three or four hours of watching, something came abundantly clear. Except for a scant handful of representatives, the Republican representatives were all graying white men, supported by at least two middle-aged women. All had an air of prosperity about them, probably because most members of Congress are millionaires. Probably lawyers, landowners and businessmen.

On the other hand, I observed that the Democrat representatives were not only old white men, there were old white women as well as younger men and women of various races, nationalities of origin, and gender. Clearly, representative of the people of the country. Something that the Republican contingent didn't.

The founding fathers created Congress to be similar to the British Parliament. With the Senate to be the overseer elder statesman similar to the House of Lords but not as aristocratic. And the fathers created the House of Representatives to be similar to the House of Commons, giving the ordinary people of the land a say, by way of representation, in the lawmaking of the Republic.

I can safely assume that the old white men in the Republican side probably came out of the crop of Young Republicans from the sixties and seventies during the Nixon and Reagan eras. I didn't see any replacements of a younger kind. In a few short years, they will be too old to serve or will have died. I don't even know if the Young Republicans are still a viable organization. As far as I know, there never have been, Young Democrats, but the political parties have always tried to foster new blood. Always recruiting and training, a process I despise, training. They train monkeys, don't they?

I cannot and will not conclude which side was right. I can only conclude that I know what a violation of the public trust is and I know what can be constituted as a crime without being a judge or lawyer. I detest lying. And anyone who lies to get their way or fails to see when they have done wrong, does not get my vote or my support. I like to use the mechanism of the petition to join others in providing a clear concern from the people. I don't sign petitions because I have to. I sign petitions that make good sense for me and for those who are also signing.

As both sides concluded, and in the end, the vote determined that Donald J. Trump was impeached, only time and history will determine who was right. I think I already know.

Copyright 2019 © Ronald W. Hull

12/20/19