By CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The next Congress will be one of the least experienced in decades.
And it might even be more polarized than the current Congress, if that's possible.
Politico reports that the House and Senate will be filled with "rookies and sophomores unbound by the institution's traditions" who have "virtually no experience doing serious legislative work."
It will be hard to tell them apart from the current Congress.
Here's the deal: the 2010 elections brought in a record number of new lawmakers, mostly Republican.
Then there were dozens of retirements in 2012, plus the expected election turnover in November.
All this means the new Congress could have more than 155 members with fewer than four years experience.
Some suggest this is a good thing, that it's time to "throw the bums out" and that the turnover will bring fresh blood into a growingly unpopular institution.
And for good reason. The current Congress is more partisan and less willing to compromise than ever. Plus it could be argued a lot of them don't know what they're doing.
One Democratic congressmen tells Politico, "There are chairmen of subcommittees who don't know which end of the gavel to use, much less how to get a bill through Congress."
As the United States heads for that "fiscal cliff" next year, the makeup of the Congress that will be elected in November is very much a wildcard. We're running out of room to either make mistakes or do nothing.
House Speaker John Boehner insists all these fresh faces have had a positive impact, bringing "energy, enthusiasm and real-world experience" to Washington.
But what have they done for us lately? Nothing. And it might get worse.
Here’s my question to you: What does it mean if the next Congress is one of the least experienced in decades?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Beth:
Gee, it might mean that nothing will get done, that they won't be able to agree on anything, that they will wait until the last minute to raise the debt ceiling thus causing a drop in the U.S.'s credit rating. Oh sorry, that's what is happening with this Congress. How could an inexperienced Congress be any worse?
Tom in Philadelphia:
Just like the Congress does now. They will listen to their contributors. Remember that they are bought and paid for.
Jeff:
It means maybe that they'll actually get something done if they don't know how to filibuster or use all of the other stall tactics. I think it's wonderful.
John in San Jose, California:
Jack, We don't need experience. We need fresh minds with fresh ideas not tied to the old ways of doing business.
Kristen in Olympia, Washington:
It means we will continue to stall out in Congress. It takes time to become accustomed to the ways of Congress and we don't have time for learning on the job. We need a Congress that will act on our behalf now.
Jeff in North Carolina:
It means that the more senior members will have even more power in their chambers than they do now. It doesn't matter, Jack. We're too far gone. Send in the vultures.
Wayne in Virginia:
Maybe with a bunch of new faces, the old worn-out faces will quit, get voted out the next election, or come to the realization that the people are tired of the same old b.s.
M.B.:
Who would even notice? Name the last 5 items this Congress has accomplished? Zero...