OPINION: Nearly 50 congressmen and senators are quitting. Can you blame them?

[Dulcinea]

At the height of the chaos in the House of Representatives this year — after Republicans had ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy but battled each other to decide on a replacement — U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson’s office and family began to be inundated with threats and hateful messages.

The threats weren’t from Russian operatives or even Democrats, but from grassroots Republicans livid at Ferguson for withdrawing his support from Ohio’s Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid for speaker. After watching Jordan’s allies harass his fellow House Republicans, Ferguson said the House didn’t need a “a bully as the speaker.” And then the bullies came for him.

-snip-

It’s not just Republicans leaving. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, a retiring six-term Democrat from Michigan, told the Wall Street Journal the dysfunction in Congress meant he couldn’t see staying in D.C. any longer.

“The last few years have been among the most difficult and frustrating times in my professional career with a chaotic House,” he said. “It’s hard to erase that experience from one’s mind in making this decision.”

https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-nearly-50-congressmen-and-senators-are-quitting-can-you-blame-them/KLRBBYKL7BHIDCJ4GNL6NO3ISE/

[padah513]

1. I understand why and screw the Republicans who are leaving, but I'd like some of these Democrats to stay in this fight

I understand that burnout is a real thing, and there's also safety and age to take into consideration, but this is about our Democracy. Right now it's like a leaky ship and the less holes we need to plug to keep it afloat the better. Just my two cents.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. All these threats and a handful of prosecutions

There is not the time nor resources to track them all to ground. So they continue. Authorities need to collar some random perps and fine them $10k each. Maybe it would beat back the wave.

[Martin Eden]

3. Actual public service can be difficult, frustrating, and even dangerous.

But the need for it has never been greater.

Democrats in Congress have to be steadfast, courageous, and committed to saving our democracy.