While at a leadership seminar several years ago, I was introduced to a unique game called the Marshmallow Challenge. The object of this activity is to tape dry spaghetti noodles together to suspend a marshmallow as high in the air as possible. One of the most interesting results of research analyzing this challenge is that kindergartners often outperform highly-educated professionals. This is because instead of trying to perfect one plan like the scholars, lawyers and politicians who inevitably run out of time, kindergartners diligently employ a try/fail technique.

Although the stakes are much higher, Congress often sets out to build a beautiful apparatus on which its figurative marshmallow can be placed, only for the buzzer to sound. Some situations, especially those pertaining to life and death scenarios and national security, force Congress to be cognizant of failure and put the try/fail technique on the shelf. Despite this, many policy areas, such as immigration, taxes and trade, lend themselves to a government willing to learn from the past. Numerous factors contribute to a Congress seemingly bent on building systems to last decades, but one in particular has recently reared its head: obstructionism.

Whether one prefers to reference the recent Pelosi-buster or the fila-Boehner from several years ago, there comes a point where resistance morphs into a nuisance. To use Nancy Pelosi’s recent, eight-hour speech as a case example, she should be commended for her passion and willingness to fight for her cause; however, when the other party controls both houses of Congress and the White House, there comes a point when resistance actions can be considered disrespectful of the American voters who put her opposing colleagues in office.

This is not a pure critique of Pelosi; much of the liberal resistance’s actions can be compared to conservative antics during the early days of the Obama administration. If a minority party wishes to challenge majority rule, they should be free to do so in every manner, so long as they do not value special interest over the voice of the American people. If Americans are truly unhappy with the job Republican lawmakers are doing, then they will demonstrate their dissatisfaction in November. Until then, let’s see if Congress can avoid habitual shutdowns and non-Senatorial filibusters.

For now, an elected Republican majority holds Congress, and even in their dissent, the minority party should respect this mandate. When the American people hand one party the marshmallow, the other should not spitefully break the spaghetti noodles.

DANIEL BRICKHILL lives in Buckingham County. His email address is danielrbrickhill@gmail.com.