Who Can We Believe?

If you turn on talk radio or listen to certain television programs, you would think the commentators really want to change our country for the good. They complain about Congress and the Republicans and the Democrats and generally get us all worked up. Then, we rant and rave to our significant others or friends or to anyone who will listen, complaining right along with the commentator who caused our vexation. "I totally agree that something must be done!" I say. But, notice, does the commentator offer any solutions to these problems? Nope!

So, what do these right and left wingers stand for, if not for change? They stand for themselves, of course. They make big money complaining about both sides, causing our blood pressure to rise, while offering no solutions! They have their own agenda.

But, we, the people, are very unhappy with our government right now. Recent polls show Congress has an approval rating of 9 - 11%. What can we do? We have been complaining about political corruption for so long that Congress has become increasingly bolder and greedier because they realize we are doing nothing to prevent this corrruption. They continue to escalate the amount of earmarks they are approving, only now they are earmarking money that goes directly into their pockets! (See the next posting.)

People shrug their shoulders and say - "Well, nothing can be done. Congress has the power. We don't." They are wrong. We do have the power. We have the power to protest, we have the power to march down Pennsylvania Avenue and sit on the steps of the Capital until something is done. We have the power to Petition the government: “Congress shall make no law…abridging…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” And if that doesn't work, we have the right to withhold our taxes until the grievances are addressed.

I know, I know. I'm talking revolutionary and scary stuff here, but it can be done with cooperation from the citizens of the United States. This will mean dropping bi-partisan politics. We will need to become one people, people who demand a change, a change that will remove Congress' self-governing interests from their grasp. Currently, Congress decides on their salary, their benefits, their office expense, their fundraising rules, their lobbying rules, their earmark rules, their very own ethics rules. Can you believe it? They get to decide whether they are breaking the law or not! Imagine that. If you had that type of power, and you were a person who already has a weakness for power, would you ever give it up? Of course not! Why should you?

So, this is my preliminary proposal to my fellow Americans. We have brilliant people in this nation, people much more intelligent than me. I challenge you! I challenge you to develop a plan, in alignment with our constitution, that will insure our government has the proper checks and balances. This can be strengthening our right to petition (and what happens after we petition?) It can be the development of a separate branch of government (the House of Checks and Balances?) that reports directly to the American people, that accepts no fundraising or cannot be lobbied, that audits the branches of government and reports back to the public, that has the authority to audit each area of government, and perhaps brings key issues to the public for a vote.

We can do this, fellow Americans, with a well-thought out plan, something our government has not done well lately. We still want Congress to pass our laws, but we surely don't want them to pocket cash and benefit directly from the laws they pass! Let's make a difference. Let's get it done!!!!

Your fellow Patriot,

Sue