I thought I was a tolerant person. Then I heard something that could have only originated in a kindergarten playground. If the rules are inconvenient for you, then change them, regardless of how unreal they are. It’s only imaginary play anyway, and that is good for children. This may be true, but is it good for adults?

Agree or disagree with President Trump’s approach to global trade. Agree or disagree with his legal use of enacting emergency powers to extend the power of the executive branch. These are not the issues that I am concerned with at the moment.

One of the brilliant steps taken by the architects of the Constitution of the United States was to clearly outline the responsibilities of each branch of government. Another stroke of genius was to allow for unforeseen circumstances to dictate debate for amending the document so that it was applicable as the country and the world grew and changed. Many call it a “living document.”

When President Trump enacted emergency powers so that he could impose tariffs on countries of his own choosing without the express consent of Congress, he was in his right to do so. The story does not end there, however. Congress also has the right to oversee the president’s use and declaration of these emergency powers. The U.S. Senate took on this responsibility and passed a resolution to remove the “economic emergency” and give the power of tariff’s back to the deliberating branch of government, Congress.

Under the law, when such a resolution is passed by either chamber the other chamber has 15 days to vote on the same resolution. If it fails to pass it, then these emergency powers remain in place. The key to this power sharing and oversight is giving the people’s branch of government an opportunity to deliberate the issue.

Unfortunately, it was at this juncture where the system broke down and we entered a reality that I cannot believe anyone would fully understand. Even those aforementioned kindergartners.

The leaders of the House of Representatives instituted a rule change (as is constitutionally allowed). I can only speculate on their motives, but I am pretty sure that fear was one of them. The rule change that they implemented was that a calendar day is not a day. In essence this means that the 15-day moratorium will never be reached and therefore the resolution does not have to be voted on by the House. More importantly, it will not even be debated on the House floor.

Since when is a day not a day? Can I declare to my employer that Mondays no longer exist and therefore I do not have to come into work the day after Sunday? Yes, if I “live” in the world of the House of Representatives. Can my son declare that everyday is his birthday and we should therefore give him presents and cake? Yes, if he “lives” in the world of the House of Representatives. These are farcical statements in a very serious conversation. But are our congressional leaders serious when they expect us to believe a “day is not a day” because they said so?

I cannot believe that Americans, regardless of their stance on our government’s approach to issues, are comfortable with leaders who make a mockery of reality to suit their own needs. And yet we allow them to represent us. To be honest, I am embarrassed. I also am not sure how to tell my child, or my students, that we demand more of them when just “playing a game” and not demand more of our own leaders. America, we can do better, this day and every day.