Would be the way I’d describe myself this Monday evening if I weren’t an optimist as I watch this truly unbelievable spectacle of grown men and women failing in their attempt to deal with a federal government out of control.

Not to mention the endless commentary on any and every TV, radio and Internet outlet. So we sent senior reporter Jim Fields out into the county to ask folks about the debt ceiling crisis. Bobby Parrish told Fields the key to revitalizing the economy was lowering gas prices. And although the question at hand was raising the allowable national debt, Parrish has a point, since if we had cheaper gas it would be a heckuva lot more likely that folks would spend more, thus generating more jobs, which would create more income tax revenue, which would allow the government to borrow less money.

But cheaper gas could only come about if there were a rational energy policy in the U.S. which allowed drilling where the oil is. That would be too simple, it seems.

Phil White had a good idea, which was to strip the Congress of their health insurance if they couldn’t reach a deal. That surely must appeal to many of those weary of a dysfunctional legislature.

Maybe a part-time Congress would be better, like the Virginia General Assembly. When not in session, at least they could do no harm, right? But then who would keep an eye on the Chief Executive?

Tuesday afternoon the Senate finally brought the drama to an end, approving the debt ceiling bill 74-26, but it’s really just a first installment in a debate that will surely continue until the 2012 congressional and presidential elections.

So maybe this close to unwatchable exercise will have a useful purpose, helping voters focus on the fundamental differences between the two parties in preparation for November 2012.

Letters – we still like them, with a few caveats

We were pleased at how many folks sent in their thoughts last week, many on the upcoming GOP canvasses in Districts 1 and 5. All we ask is that folks follow the guidelines in the letters to the editor box to the right. Send them by the post, by e-mail or by fax, it’s all good. But sign them please and take the time to include an address and a daytime phone number. We want to let readers know where you are writing from and we want to be able to call you up if we have questions or to verify authorship.

Letters without this information will not be published. If you leave addresses and phone numbers out we may call, if we have time but we’d rather writers would simply include the information in the first place.

Deadline for receiving letters is Monday afternoon for that week’s issue.