Orrin Hatch is the senior senator from Utah, and the most senior man in the entire senate. He is the poster boy for why term limits must become a reality in congress. He was once a respected member of the august body, but has become nothing more than an 83-year-old politician who has lost the respect of the American people. In 1996 Hatch co-wrote CHIP along with his Democratic friend, Ted Kennedy. It was supported by both parties and renewed multiple times until this year. When asked why Republicans were balking, Hatch said “we don’t have the money.”

In case you have not been following the atrocities being committed in Washington in a purely partisan manner, CHIP is the ‘Children’s Healthcare Insurance Program.’ This plan covers children whose parents fall into a ‘wage gap.’ They make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford health insurance offered by their employers. Last year CHIP covered nine million children.

CHIP was passed during a time when Republicans cared about the American people. Today they are ‘Republican in name only,’ and serve less than 10 percent of our nation’s people; the wealthy.

The Salt Lake Tribune recently honored Hatch for his 40 years as a United States Senator. Is that a reason to celebrate any politician? I believe that it is a crime. Money corrupts men, and Hatch has become a multi-millionaire over his tenure. Money and power corrupt men completely. He is too old and too out of touch to remain in office. The Tribune agrees with me.

“It would be good for Utah if Hatch, having finally caught the Great White Whale of tax reform, were to call it a career,” the editorial stated. “If he doesn’t, the voters should end it for him.”

The Tribune pointed to his approval of Trump’s decision to shrink national monuments in Utah, and allow big oil to drill in these formerly protected lands, and his rush to pass a tax bill which will harm tens of thousands of Utah’s residents; making himself and all other politicians more wealthy.

The average age in the United States is 37.8 years old. How can an old, senile man understand the needs of men and women less than half of his age? America needs younger men and women in Washington who will serve the majority.

In 2015, my age group, baby boomers, lost its claim as the largest demographic in our nation. Millennials, ages 18-34, became America’s primary voting bloc. Also expected is that Generation X, Americans between the ages of 35-50, will surpass baby boomers by 2028.

I say “good riddance to bad rubbish.” Trump is exactly three weeks older than me. We, and most of the Republican Party, are too old to lead our nation into the future. Old, white, rich men have created a government which is dysfunctional. It is also fascist without the involvement of the Democratic Party.

Congress needs not only younger members, but also many, many more women. If our government is to represent all Americans, it must mirror the demographics of our nation.

Please re-post; thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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