Terry Tyler

September 30, 2010 6:18 AM

The public's approval rating for the United States Congress is somewhere in the 20th percentile. It's difficult to imagine how much disrespect this group of individuals has been able to garner.

Only one in five citizens appreciates the job these elected officials are doing. Most private-sector businesses would be forced to close their doors and file bankruptcy if they performed this poorly.

Who's to blame for this sorry situation? We are.

That's right, we the people have come to expect and accept mediocre performance from our elected officials. We continue to send people to D.C. who are more interested in "getting along" than getting things done.

The 23rd Congressional District is a case in point.

This district has been designed, by extreme gerrymandering, to ensure that only a Democrat is elected. The design of this beach-front district is so rigged that it has been called "the ribbon of shame" by credible media sources. This situation is an insult to the people who live in the district, as well to those who live just outside its carefully crafted borders.

For the last six terms, the district's representative has been Lois Capps, who essentially inherited the seat from her husband Walter when he tragically died shortly after taking office.

Once upon a time, Mrs. Capps accepted a campaign contribution of more than $200,000 in exchange for a pledge to serve only two terms in Congress. When it was time to honor her commitment to the term-limits pledge, Mrs. Capps reneged, claiming she had signed the agreement under duress. She compounded the contract violation by not returning the money she had received in exchange for her pledge. This act stands as a perfect example of how power can intoxicate and addict a well-intentioned citizen.

Mrs. Capps has become so entrenched that she doesn't even feel the need to engage her opponents in open public debate and discussion of issues. Her carefully designed district is so stacked with registered Democrats that her record of consistently voting the Nancy Pelosi party line appears to be the only requirement for reelection. Her consistent support of government spending and expansion are not indicative of financial responsibility.

Santa Barbara deserves more thoughtful representation. It's time to elect a Congress person who will represent all of the voters in this district.

Terry Tyler a retired certified public accountant.