Posted by
JayPeriod on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 2:55:25 PM
As someone who makes a regular habit of contacting my elected officials, sometimes I still have to wonder if they really are listening to us. We are not a direct democracy, but are a representative democracy. That means we don't get to vote on every issue, but rather elect someone to make those choices for us. That, of course, implies that they listen to us, but I'm not so sure that really happens.
You need look no further back than this past summer, when the Shamnasty bill was being considered. Clearly, an overwhelming majority of Americans disapprove of any form of amnesty for illegals in this country. Any form. Yet, Congress and the President continued to work on compromises which would have granted just that. In fact, it took an extreme amount of phone calls, jamming phone systems, to get them to turn away from this disgrace.
Also, in state after state, the people vote in overwhelming majorities for the protection of traditional marriage. Yet, several states are now considering bills which go directly the opposite direction. It's as if they just don't care and think they know better than us.
Last year, the Democrats were put into power, not because of the war, but in spite of it, on the promise of a more fiscally responsible government. Yet, the recent appropriation bills that were sent to the President were littered with irresponsible spending and earmarks. Of course, they were whittled down after several threats of veto. So, here we are, one year later, and our government is no more responsive to us or concerned with what we think.
I sincerely hope in the coming year, the American people will wake up and hold their hands to the fire. We need to make sure they know that we are not happy and we are not going to take it any more. But, are we, the American people, really that fed up? Maybe they are waiting for our voice after all.