There Are Plaids And Stripes But No Checks

by "BushBGone04"

If you have written to a Representative or Senator recently, you have probably gotten back a polite form letter thanking you for your interest, letting you know they also take the subject seriously, a brief statement supporting the administration view that you objected to, and telling you to write again if you have other concerns. The letter is almost the same, whether it is from a Democrat or Republican Congressperson.

With as many controversial decisions made by this administration, surely at least one of them must be opposed by one of our representatives in Washington. At least the opposition party must disagree with one of them. You would think so anyway.

Trying to find a response from any representative, at least in writing, that agrees with any opposition to this administration, would require that you search for it with the lantern of Diogenes. Honesty seems to have gone the way of our Constitution.

Our Constitution set up our government with three distinct branches, Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Each was to provide checks on the others to create a balance of power and prevent the situation our founding fathers were rebelling against, power in the hands on one man, King George. How did we wind up with yet another King George? Where are the checks to moderate his power to make decisions that are truly not in the best interests of America, such as unbridled spending reaching historic deficits, or lifting of environmental protections. Who could oppose clear air to breathe?

Is it possible that J. Edgar Hoover's old files have been revived and augmented with the latest technological methods of data gathering? Are there an equal number of skeletons as there are Senators and Representatives so that simply rattling the bones in their closets is enough to make everyone toe the party line? It's easier finding a doctor to testify against another doctor.

Our elected officials, for whatever reason, are not doing their job. They are to be our voice in the Halls of Congress. Congress today has become an aviary filled with parrots who repeat the latest White House rhetoric. Parrots don't debate. Parrots don't dissent. Parrots don't get re-elected.

Write a letter to your Senators and your Representative. Pick a topic a week and tell them you disagree with that topic and would like them to oppose it. Whether you do or not is immaterial. All you're looking for is something other than the polite form letter telling you in effect to "Bug off!". If you get that rare letter, make sure you vote for that person again. If you simply collect the same old form letters, send them all back before they come up for re-election next time with a bag of bird seed and tell them you don't vote for parrots. It's time that our government officials read their job description.

10-13-03