It’s an important-sounding word. Sounds like it includes responsibilities, and for some it requires an oath, to an overriding organizational document such as a Constitution, no less.
The word “representative” can mean standing or acting for another, especially through delegated authority (Merriam-Webster Thesaurus). As a noun, it means one that represents another as agent, deputy, substitute or delegate usually being invested with the authority of the principal. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Being an elected member of the United States House of Representatives means that one represents 700,000 Americans, under the U.S. Constitution to which a solemn oath is taken.
This week, approximately ten elected members of the House tried to force their will on 331.9 million Americans by holding Congress and the American people hostage to their unreasonable demands. They declared that it was their way or the highway and that no other representative or their constituency mattered because they would not negotiate with anyone.
Why did they do this? Well, some say that Matt Gaetz of Florida wants to be governor of that state so thought this was a good way to get his name out there as a responsible candidate for the CEO of Florida who really cares about all the people who live there. Not my first choice as an approach to being a candidate for anything but he tried and, in the end, failed.
Leading the pack looking to cause a government shutdown (stopping payments to our military, air traffic controllers, food for hungry kids, etc.) is none other than ringleader, presidential candidate Donald J Trump. Why would he want a shutdown? He thought it might stop the Special Prosecutor in the Justice Department from continuing two federal cases against him (it wouldn’t). Another hare-brained campaign idea that, at the last moment, did not come to fruition.
What do these men have in common? An agenda against the government, the people of the United States, their voters, and the Constitution to which they swore an oath to protect and defend.
Gerrymandered politicians have no reason to listen to or serve the constituents who elected them. That is why it is in voters best interest to make sure they are given good choices of candidates for office, any office, but especially our Congressional representatives who are elected based on state-drawn district maps.
We had a dinner party last night at which a guest said that fewer than half of Americans know that we have three branches of government or what these branches do. So let’s start with civics education. Only then can we have a well-informed citizenry.
Then we have to make it easy to register to vote, and to change one’s voting registration when a voter relocates. Pennsylvania just tied voter registration to State ID, drivers’ license or other ID if a citizen does not drive. And we have to have a requisite number of places to vote by population. You can’t have a precinct in every small town and only one voting location in a city of a million people.
Votes must be counted and reported correctly. Get rid of rules that say no votes can be counted before Election Day. That’s only so one party can get on the news election night (see Donald Trump 2020) and say a candidate won and to stop counting, only to have mail ballots that had piled up because of COVID being counted for days afterward.
For those of you who represent us in Washington, D.C., go home now that the government will be functioning for the next 45 days and talk to your constituents, not just the ones who elected you but those who chose the other candidate, who you represent as well. Marjory Taylor Green said yesterday that Americans won’t care about a government shutdown. We do. We also care that ten U.S. Representatives tried to hold us hostage, and for what? Their egos? To say they “own the libs?” To be interviewed by Hannity? Please.
If you leave the D.C. bubble every once in a while, you might find out that all of us voters out there are not stupid, and contrary to your belief, we don’t spend our days thinking about you. We spend it thinking about our lives and what is important to us, the things you represent us to do something about. Get involved, folks. Write your representative, just look it up by address/zip code online and send a message. Someone will read it, and when they get enough mail, they may start to listen. And VOTE!!! Dee
Cooking with Dee 