Three Words You Won't Find in the Congressional Dictionary

I don’t know if there is such a thing as a “Congressional Dictionary”, but if there is, I’m betting there are quite a few words that you can find in a Webster’s Dictionary that you won’t find in the Congressional Dictionary.

Three words in particular come to mind:

• RESPONSIBILITY

• ACCOUNTABILITY

• LIABILITY

These three words are similar and closely related and are often used interchangeably. However, they do have different meanings, especially in relation to the potential consequences of one’s actions, or in some cases, inactions, as follows.

Responsibility: the state of being responsible, or answerable, for something within one’s power, control or management.

Accountability: the state of being subject to the obligation of being responsible for something.

Liability: the state of being legally responsible.

Now, take those three words and try to apply them to Congress. None of them fit, do they?

Congress NEVER takes Responsibility for any of its actions. Congress NEVER subjects itself or any of its members to being Accountable for their actions. And Congress certainly NEVER holds itself or any of its members Liable for their actions.

Instead, Congress ALWAYS points its collective finger at someone or something else. “Don’t blame US, it’s someone else’s fault.” “It’s Bush’s fault.” “It’s Obama’s fault.” It’s Trump’s fault.” “It’s the Russian’s fault.” “It’s the Corona Virus’ fault.” “It’s (fill in the blank)’s fault.”

Yes, Congress is the Grand Master of the Blame Game.

Responsibility, Accountability and Liability roll off of them like water rolls off a duck’s back. A fried egg would stick to a Teflon-coated pan easier than getting Congress to accept Responsibility, Accountability or Liability for its actions.

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of Congress pointing its finger at everyone and everything but itself. I’m ready to point my finger at Congress – only it’s not my first finger, or my ring finger, or my little finger, or my thumb I’m going to point at them.

I’m ready to subject Congress and all of its members to the same levels of Responsibility, Accountability and Liability that they subject everyone else to.

And if they are unwilling to accept Responsibility for their actions, to accept Accountability for their actions and to accept Liability for their actions, I’m ready to teach them the meaning of another word made popular by Arnold Schwarzenegger:

TERMINATED !!!