Editor, Gazette-Journal:

George Washington, our first president, took his oath of office April 29, 1789, in New York City on the balcony of the Senate Chamber at Federal Hall on Wall Street.

The following quote is from that first inaugural address. How different might the events of the past few years might have been if Congress lived up these standards?

“… the tribute that is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt them. In these honorable qualifications I behold the surest pledges that as on one side no local prejudices or attachments, no separate views nor party animosities …”

Note the qualifications of the first Congress: talent, rectitude (honorable, morally correct behavior), and patriotism. And their pledges: no local prejudices or attachments, no separate views nor party animosities will misdirect their deliberations. Standards have changed over 231 years. Imagine the time that could be saved if Congress put aside partisan politics and investigations to concentrate on the bills in front of them. They could finish handling the people’s business in the time allotted without need for continuing resolutions, government shutdowns and booting issues down the road for the next Congress to deal with.

Rick Ferris
Gloucester, Va.