Blessed Be the Lack of Ties That Bind

While watching the Saddleback Community Forum, I saw the end of Barack Obama’s interview and the beginning of Senator McCain’s. The two met on stage with Pastor Rick Warren feeling comfortable and relaxed. Both did extraordinarily well according to media reports. The reason? I think it was the dress code Pastor Warren had on stage.

Missing from the necks of both major party presidential nominees were those medieval torture devices known as neckties. In that moment, I had an epiphany.

Some people think the problems of our political life come from unethical Congressmen, special interests, a run away tax code, or a lack of civility and respect for people with whom we disagree.  However, just like Barack Obama identified America’s energy crisis as the result of underinflated tires, there’s a far simpler issue that plagues our troubled political life: Political leaders whose neckties are tied too tight.

People sitting back home wonder, “What are those fools in Congress doing?” Don’t they have any common sense? Of course, many of these Americans enjoy a tie-less existence, so they don’t understand. When you tie your tie too tight, you limit the flow of oxygen to your brain, thus explaining many of the bizarre votes and statements to come out of Congress.

This also explains why Congress is constantly leaving town. Male members of Congress are downright uncomfortable. And when you see most of them out of session, they’ve left their ties behind.

Congress must act to change the culture of Washington with a solution that will bring men together. The mandate is clear from Saddleback Community Church: abolish all ties in the halls of Congress. Imagine how much more relaxed and capable, every Congressman will be with oxygen flowing freely to their brain all the time. This is change we can believe in.

Furthermore, Congress may even consider going further to lessen the need for constant vacations by going with a business casual dress code. Imagine if, instead of addressing Congress in hot suits and dresses, Congresspeople could speak on the floor in a comfortable U.S. House or U.S. Senate polo shirt and khakis. True, these polo shirts would end up being made in John Murtha’s district and would cost $3000 each, but that’d be a small price to pay for a comfortable, well-run Congress.

I might even guardedly suggest “Casual Friday,” which could get more people interested in running for Congress. However, guidelines should be clear. Some businesses allow employees to wear shorts on casual Friday during the summer. The last thing any of us wants to see is Barney Frank in a T-shirt and shorts on the floor of the House.