a knife through the heart

Earlier this week, John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi announced their joint decision to end the Page Program in the U.S. House of Representatives. Program costs and the obsolescence of a messenger system in a digital age were the two reasons cited for the program's termination.

In reality, the program has largely been obsolete and unnecessary for the last few decades. And true, the program costs money, but it's a fair argument to say that the program's return on investment is extraordinary.

My own time as a page during the '96-'97 school year was life-changing. Ask any former page, like my brother Patrick, and they will say the same.

After hearing the shocking news, I sent the following letter to Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi:

Peter Janelle
U.S. House Page Class of ‘97
August 8, 2011

John Boehner
Speaker

Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader

Cc: Hon. Keith Ellison

Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi:

I am writing to express my profound disappointment in your decision to terminate the House Page Program. As longtime leaders in the U.S. Congress, you are undoubtedly aware that pages have served Congress since the institution’s genesis. The ranks of Page alumni boast Members of Congress, Congressional staff, governors, state legislators, successful businessmen such as Bill Gates, and countless outstanding citizens and public servants.

Speaking from personal experience, I would not have the civic-mindedness or commitment to public service and social justice that I do today had it not been for the nine months I spent in your midst. Congress’ reputation is at a historical low, and I do not exaggerate when I say that former pages are among the strongest believers in the institution we both hold dear.

I am unsure of your motivations for ending the program. If the issue is cost, there are still countless earmarks (including money for a multi-million dollar bridge to nowhere bridging my state of Minnesota with our neighboring Wisconsin), tax loopholes, and other outlays that would better serve the institution of the page program than the interests they currently serve. If the issue is occasional scandal, I would point out that the most highly publicized instances have involved Members of Congress, some of whom are still among your ranks. If the issue is simply one of an institution that has run its course, I would remind you again that pages as an institution is as old and venerable as any other institution attached to Congress. The public would be just as well served by the dissolution of the office of the sergeant of arms, surely a redundant post with the existence of the more modern Capitol Police force.

While I applaud your bipartisanship in this matter, I would rather you come to consensus on more pressing matters, such as improving healthcare cost and access, decreasing the national debt, and balancing the budget.

I strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to terminate this institution.

Sincerely,
Peter Janelle

This program has been a unique educational opportunity for American high school students. Awareness of how our democracy works (or is supposed to work) is on the decline among the general population and, of grave conccern, among American youth. Of course, such disinvestment in future generations is what we continue to see from our government and our economy. Frankly, I am not optimistic that this trend will change. In the end, because intellectual and economic stagnation are what we have bought, they are no more than we deserve.