By CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Here's all you need to know about how worthless Congress is:
Of the thousands of measures introduced in the current Congress - only 132 passed.
And about 1 in 5 of those was to approve official names for post offices.
This country is circling the drain when it comes to runaway government spending and deficits - and 20% of the bills that got through Congress were to name post offices.
What's more: a CNN analysis of Congressional records shows that the current Congress has worked just as many days as previous Congresses - they just have a lot less to show for it.
This gridlock means that the important things that need doing are in limbo. We haven't had a budget in forever. There has been no action on the fiscal cliff that is fast approaching at the end of the year. The debt ceiling is going to have to be raised. The national debt and deficits are out of control. And they spend their time naming post offices.
Experts say it hasn't always been this way. They call the 111th Congress "exceedingly productive." That was when the Democrats passed Obamacare.
Of course that was also the spark that started the fire that was the tea party. Republicans swept into power in the house in 2010 - promising to repeal health care reform and crack down on government waste and abuse.
But what they've mostly done is slow the pace of government and turned this Congress into one of the least productive in modern history.
Congress still has 6 months left to redeem themselves. But don't count on it.
Between vacation time and campaigning for re-election, it's unlikely they'll deal with any of the critical issues facing the U.S. today.
Here’s my question to you: One in five measures passed by the current Congress approved post office names. How equipped are lawmakers to deal with our problems?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Ed in Texas:
Relax, Jack. If they do nothing, spending will automatically be reduced by the sequestration deal from the debt ceiling fight and the Bush tax cuts expiring on Dec. 31. Viola! Deficit reduction without them doing anything, which is what they do best, isn't it?
Tom in Rochester, New York:
If we wanted to elect people who were equipped to handle our pressing problems we wouldn't elect politicians.
Pat in Idaho:
At this point, approving names for post offices seems like the safest thing for our country.
Bonnie in New Jersey:
I believe they are equipped, they just refuse to do it. The news media and us (the constituents) have also refused to call them on it, too. We are as much to blame as them.
Brad in Portland, Oregon:
The reason that bills naming post offices represent such a high proportion of bills being passed is because the Republicans block any bill with any substance. They won't let anything through unless it's totally inconsequential. Although if a bill naming a post office after Malcolm X is introduced, see what the Republicans do.
David in Tampa, Florida:
I think the word you are looking for is ain't. Used as an adjective before words like competent, intelligent, responsible. But we are stuck with them until voted out.
Kevin in California:
Apparently very well if you want a post office named after you. The rest, not so much.