This is a question that has been debated more often in recent years as accusations of corruption in our governmental bodies filter to the general public. With the internet becoming such a powerful tool for the passing of information, it is hard to ignore the rumors. Especially when they become more than rumors.
In recent years, the focus of many has narrowed on our elected officials and found them wanting. Accusations of campaign contributions being taken and unreported. Accusations of lobbyists passing bribes and kickbacks to gain critical votes in Congress. Talks of general corruption in anything from business ventures gone bad to unpaid parking tickets and spousal abuse. With all of this going on, can we afford to allow nothing to be said?
These are our Representatives
We, the people, elected these men and women to office. We were the ones who said that, yes; they should be advocates for us in Congress. They had what it took to speak for the majority of their constituency and see that our will was done. We gave them the power to make our lives…and as a result…their lives better. So why is it that some people think we should just step back, say “Oh, well”, and do nothing when these representatives are doing things that are contrary to our will?
We, as citizens, have the right to fair representation in Congress. That does not mean that once the election is over, these people can simply go about their merry way and do whatever they feel like doing, to hell with the consequences. They are there by our leave. To listen to what we say. To know how we feel. They are not there to line their own pockets while the people are forgotten. They are not there to ignore us. They would not even be there if it wasn't for us, and I believe that many of our Congressional representatives have forgotten that.
Historically, We are a Nation that Questions Authority
Before the United States was a nation, she was a land of colonies beholden to England. We lived under English rule, at the whims of an English monarch and Parliament. At that time, our government resided thousands of miles away, and didn't rightly care that we had concerns of our own. We had problems that they could not comprehend since they did not know a thing about living in America. The American Colonies had no representation in Parliament to speak for us. It was not permitted; and yet we were taxed just like the rest of the English Empire.
After years of living under English rule without anyone to speak for our rights, some of the most well respected, brilliant men of the time gathered together and wrote a document that we still adhere to. The Declaration of Independence. They acted; speaking out against oppression. Declaring in one voice that they would not stand for corruption, injustice, and tyranny. They questioned authority and gained a nation based on freedom for all. Freedom to pray in whatever churches we choose, and to say and write whatever we feel we need to. Freedom from the unethical and tyrannical behavior of an unsympathetic monarch.
They spoke out. Why shouldn't we?
To Err is Human
Every human being makes mistakes. It is in our nature to do so. But should we as Americans sit back and watch passively as our elected officials act in ways that we would not? Should we say nothing simply because we elected them and should trust that they know what they are doing? Of course not!
They should be acting in our best interest. They should be doing what we elected them to do, not whatever they want to do, forgetting what they are there for. If we do not agree with what they are doing, then we have a responsibility to do something about it. We are the ones who should be standing up and saying “Stop!”.
It is our right. It is our ultimate responsibility. It is, in truth, a duty.
Checks and Balances
Our government was designed to be a system of checks and balances. No one branch should become too powerful as the other two branches should check the actions of each other, to balance out the bad with the good. However, when one branch breaks down and becomes lodged in a miasma of unethical behavior then the whole system can eventually break down. We as the citizens of the United States must see that this does not happen. If it requires outside groups to file formal complaints in order to root out the sources, then so be it.
We have the right to fair representation, and we should see that that representation is indeed fair.
