I miss the time when I could engage in a meaningful dialogue with my Democrat friends. The Republican Party, especially the Senate, has demonstrated their inability to relate to their members.

This was illustrated when they elected Mitch McConnell as the Senate leader.

While Senate minority leader, McConnell disappointed me when he unequivocally stated that his single most important objective was to make President Barack Obama a “one-term president.”

Clearly he failed at that, and his penalty was to be elevated to majority leader when the Republicans won the Senate. Where were the consequences of failure as minority leader? ... There were none.

He apparently forgot he was elected to represent his voters and pass good legislation. Back to the point, instead of choosing a more effective leader, he was promoted. Like so many other perks of being a senator who gets free or steeply discounted meals in the Senate dining room, freedom to not choose to participate in “Obamacare,” a paid staff, free access to the Senate health club, and a high salary with generous pension benefits, (and probably many other perks).

This lofty lifestyle, along with their unwillingness to work with their counterparts to pass effective legislation, leads me to believe that they are insulated from, and have difficulty relating to, their constituents. Regrettably, I'm not seeing much hope that the future will hold many changes.

Mike Sutko, Oak Lawn

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