Our founding fathers envisioned a citizen legislature, in which each member served his (or her) term and then went back to work in the real world. Meantime, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia has received the praises of his fellow lawmakers - and his president - for completing 57 years in congress.


Up and Over The Hill

It may seem absurd
That Senator Byrd
Did lawmaking for so many years.

As the new record holder,
He got even bolder
In accepting kudos from his peers.

Foster son of a miner,
His life was much finer.
With world leaders he got to hobnob.

For years, a top rater,
With each Mountain Stater,
There was no need to go get a job.