A recent Wall Street Journal/ NBC poll found that Congress has drawn among the lowest approval ratings in history, with 83 percent of those responding giving it the big thumbs down. Looking at the past, this Congress is on pace to beat the record as the most ineffective in modern government history, surpassing that of the post Civil War era.
The 113th Congress has completed roughly seven months of the session (which is two years in length), and thus far has enacted 21 bills and resolutions. Compare this to the 111th Congress (2009-2010) that moved through 385 bills, and the 110th Congress (2007-2009) enacted 460 pieces of legislation. 
 This Congress is moribund in partisan bickering and, even worse, the parties themselves are splintered. Nothing has been getting done as these yahoos fight among themselves without regard to what is best for those who elected them.
So, why dredge this up? After all, anyone who follows the news knows how little is happening.
It’s about comparison. One just has to look a little closer to home and find a governing body that does what the big boys can’t, and that is getting along and working in the best interest of its constituents.
The Barton County Commission Monday morning approved the county budget as it was published. This action came after a contentious public hearing and a strongly split Commission that adopted the 2014 spending package by a vote of 3-2.
There was disagreement over funding for the Extension Council and Sunflower Diversified Services, and over the need to raise the county’s mill levy.
But, in the end, those supporting the measure as it was won the day.
However, as the meeting moved on to other issues, those five commissioners worked together. Sure, the members had their differences, but that was not going to interfere with the business of the county.
Kudos to the Commission. Maybe a little of what you guys have can rub off on those holding the national purse strings.
Dale Hogg