Mike Quigley: “``I look with increasing horror, along with a growing number of other Americans, at the great and bitter division that…”

“``I look with increasing horror, along with a growing number of other Americans, at the great and bitter division that is taking place in our politics and the cynicism that is the end result of power for power's sake. We are losing sight of civility in government and politics. Debate and dialogue is taking a back seat to the politics of destruction and anger and control. Dogma has replaced thoughtful discussion between people of differing views.'' Mr. Speaker, these words were spoken by then-Governor Jim McGreevey in his farewell address to the State of New Jersey in 2004, and I fear that they are truer today than ever before. With Congress back in town for just 3 days before a 2\1/2\-week break, all anyone wants to know is if, not even when, we might actually get some real work accomplished for the American people. We are 3 months into the Second Session of the 114th Congress, and what do we have to show for it? Sadly, our record of accomplishment is short. To top it off, all our constituents are hearing in the media is the hateful rhetoric and vengefulness spewing from the mouths of the candidates in the Presidential debates. And now, unfortunately, our third branch of government can't escape the partisanship that is choking our Federal Government. This is not a new struggle for our great democracy. In fact, John Adams wrote to his wife about the same issue over 200 years ago.…”