Are you as sick as I am of the Republican and Democratic Parties? The fact that they’re so stuck on their own agendas that they aren’t getting anything meaningful done? John F. Kennedy had the right idea. I think every Democratic and Republican elected representative should copy today’s Thursday Thought quote and tape it to their bathroom mirror…and to their desk in their legislative chamber.
Have something you want your Congress persons to hear? Then, follow them on vacation. August is their “vacation” time—away from Washington but closer to their constituents. During the entire month, they come home to get back in touch with us. They’re more available and open to contact in August than during any other month of the year. Now is the time, in other words, to get them to listen to you about that issue that is so important to you, your family, and your community. Call, write, email, send smoke signals, or whatever to their local offices. Write a letter to the editor (they’re more likely to read and respond to it in August) and send a copy to your representatives and senators. Arrange a meeting with them. Go onto their websites to find out when they’ll hold a town hall meeting you can attend. Start right away composing those letters or arranging for meetings. Why are you sitting there reading this? Get going!
I respect people who keep their promises. But what if they haven’t done so yet and they know that the person they made the promise to has changed their mind? Shouldn’t the Promiser give the Promisee the option of releasing them from the obligation?
I think so. That’s why I feel that my governmental representatives should listen better to what people are currently saying, and when it’s obvious that those they represent are having second thoughts–ask us what we really want them to do. We elected them to do what we think is right, and when we gain new experience, perspective, and information that changes our minds, we want them to do what we now believe is right. Whether it’s what we said when we voted for them or what we say now. We don’t want them to stick steadfastly to a promise we no longer wish them to keep, and we don’t want them to use “I ran on that promise” as an excuse not to make laws that are right and just. Thinking human beings change their minds when given new understanding; our representatives’ actions should reflect that.
We want them to hear us. That’s what polls are for. And Town Halls. And office hours. And letters, emails, and phone calls we send them.
But that’s not what’s happening in Washington. If it were, more would be accomplished.