After meeting two friends from work and combating unusually heavy weekend Metro crowds, I found myself in Downtown DC. After grabbing lunch from the delicious Five Guys, we headed over the National Mall to the Tidal Basin. There we found about a quarter of the trees were already in full bloom, with the rest of the blossoms just shy of coming fully into the spring air.
We wandered around the Tidal Basin, taking pictures like mad the whole way. We found ourselves first at that far-flung Greek temple to our third president, the Jefferson Memorial. After spending some time there, reading his rather radical political beliefs, now immortalized in stately carvings, we headed to the FDR Memorial. I was happy to note that the Park Service had turned on the water, which is critical in feeling the memorial’s intended effect, reflecting Roosevelt’s lifelong love of the sea.
I was also interested and pleased to see that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial is under construction. We peeked through the high construction fences surrounding the sight, only to see very minimal work has been done to date. However, the location is a quiet and beautiful one and it seems we are moving towards the final arrival of a long awaited memorial.
The day, in short, was a happy and relaxing change of pace from my rather tiring week. It is rare that I am in a place where I simultaneously have interesting people to spend time with, easy access to them, time to spend in leisurely moments, and a chance for some easy, relaxed conversation.
All in all, I must say it has been a week of delightful little surprises. From the chance to listen to Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg on Monday, to Ben and Jerry’s Free Cone Day on Tuesday, to my chance to attend two political fundraisers, my opportunity to cover a fascinating event on U.S. infrastructure and energy use, and finally to the chance to just wander around and enjoy the cherry blossoms, I’m constantly reminded of how lucky I am.
Now, as Easter approaches, Congress is in recess. Members head home to shore themselves up for re-elections, to explain their votes on health care reform, student loan reform, and financial regulatory reform. Watching these Members rush home to their districts, and listening personally to one or two pleas for campaign cash at fundraisers, I wonder how the country might benefit if we could limit the constant, 24/7 election mode for Members of Congress.
Unlike slower times, when Members were elected and sent to the District, where they focused on governing before having to make the long trip home to campaign for re-election, a great many of today’s elected officials seem to be engaged in constant campaigning. Forced to deal with a news cycle that never sleeps and partisan electorates hungry for answers and quick action, Members seem to spend less time here governing and far more time running for re-election.
Washington is a unique city, with a great many movers and shakers doing business within it’s boundaries on a daily basis. The city has so much to offer, and yet perhaps it’s most valuable offering is the fact that it often hosts 535 men and women representing every corner of the country. The city pulls together some of the most educated, most interesting people in the world. The city functions as a gigantic power center, and as a living museum, a monument to the American will. For any intelligent leader with a will to effect change, all these things should amount to more of a reason not to leave.
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