Dear 112th Congress

Congratulations. You are the new edition of the legislative branch of the U.S. government. And good luck; you're going to need it.

Many of you are new to the Congress; others of you are seasoned. Some of you more seasoned members are stepping into new roles as committee chairs or other leadership positions. Whether you are green as grass or green with verdigris, you owe your constituents your very best. You have been elected to be leaders, and leaders serve those they lead, not themselves. Since you were elected by and serve adults, please do not presume that you serve en loco parentis, knowing better than we do what is best for us.

Your predecessors, and in some cases you yourselves (I'm looking at you, "seasoned members"), have betrayed the trust invested in you by voters for so long that few of us have high hopes. If you have ever asked yourselves, "How will this vote affect my election/reelection bid," you've already betrayed that trust.

The pundits and many of you yourselves have said that the mid-term elections do not provide a mandate to conservatives, the Republican Party, the Tea Party, or you-name-it. You got that right; as some of you have said, they instead reflect a profound dissatisfaction with the status quo, and you should not be surprised if the electorate kicks many more of you to the curb in coming elections. "Business as usual" is not acceptable to many of us, and you would do well to hear that as a warning. If you like your position in the halls of power, you need to pay close attention to your constituents'; they are paying close attention to your actions and the effects those actions have on their lives.

Ideologies are all well and good. Values are crucial. But partisan politics dressed up as "values" or hidden behind party ideologies are not acceptable. We sent you to the Capitol to roll up your sleeves and get things done, NOT pontificate and posture and impede progress because you want to be perceived as a person of principle. If you can't "Get 'er done," we'll send you to the showers and try someone else.

Already some of you are talking about what you plan to do, and so far most of what I've heard is negative--undoing what the previous Congress(es) have done--and maybe that's needful. Maybe... But I'm waiting to hear what constructive plans you have; what you're going to build (you've made amply clear what you aim to destroy).

Congress, the nation is still in crisis. Unemployment is still through the roof. Health care costs are still climbing like a rocket. The economy is still a shambles (a slaughterhouse). Education funding is still a disgrace. You were elected to improve the lot of Americans. That's your job.

Not many of us voters hold out much hope. We don't really expect you to do anything but serve yourself and your financial supporters. We doubt your will to serve your constituents. We doubt your commitment to anything other than your next election bid or your personal profit. We are skeptics, and with ample cause.

Dear 112th Congress, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I'll cede you a basic and minimal amount of respect due your position until your actions give me cause to respect you more (or, more likely, less).

You have your chance, 112th Congress. I doubt you'll take my advice, but I'll give it to you anyway: don't blow it.