Legislators that represent me?
Recently, I've attended two different meetings where my elected "representatives" told me that they wouldn't initiate legislative action for things that the people they represent clearly want.
What's that about?
In the first case, a veteran state senator, listened to three health care plan proposals, got up and told the people present about the Governor's plan - which was none of the three we had already heard about. Then proceeded to inform us that even his caucus couldn't figure out what to support! He was mostly concerned with what would "pass" - not what we wanted.
A knowledgeable person in the audience, courageously stood up and respectfully challenged him "not to come home" without a "single-payer" plan. Anything less was a waste of our time and money and not what he was elected to do for we the people! This comment received vocal support from the vast majority of those of us present - only one person declared that he voted for the Shrub!
In response, our(?) fearless(?) Senator got up and said that his wife would like to see him come home and that pragmatically speaking there was no hope of getting such legislation passed - after all he was surrounded by "right-wingers" who still want everything privatized!
So...huh?
Does this mean that he shouldn't go on record as supporting a "single-payer" health care? Does it mean that he should set his sights lower than what is morally right? Does it mean that we the people should let him off the hook?
The second occasion happened last night in a conversation with my veteran State Representative. I asked why the legislature had not gone on record demanding the return of Wisconsin's National Guard troops deployed in Iraq?
I was told that it wouldn't make any difference - W is the Commander In Chief - end of the story - he can send the troops wherever he wants.
What?
Not!!! Unless everyone rolls over and plays dead for him.
Every state legislature is condoning the massacre of its sons and daughters on foreign soil, when they enlisted to support their state's emergency needs. Deployment and redeployment overseas in mortal combat is more than they bargained for! And every legislator and Governor should be held accountable for their inaction and silence when they could and should be a powerful force to bring an end to a conflict - that is draining the individual states of their resources - human and financial - that could be put to positive and constructive use.
Silence on the part of any elected representative anywhere is simply wrong and cowardly - they should declare where they stand in public and on the record. We the people should not let them off the hook. Do they represent us?
Why doesn't Wisconsin's Governor lead and call on the Legislature to begin the process?
What's that about?
In the first case, a veteran state senator, listened to three health care plan proposals, got up and told the people present about the Governor's plan - which was none of the three we had already heard about. Then proceeded to inform us that even his caucus couldn't figure out what to support! He was mostly concerned with what would "pass" - not what we wanted.
A knowledgeable person in the audience, courageously stood up and respectfully challenged him "not to come home" without a "single-payer" plan. Anything less was a waste of our time and money and not what he was elected to do for we the people! This comment received vocal support from the vast majority of those of us present - only one person declared that he voted for the Shrub!
In response, our(?) fearless(?) Senator got up and said that his wife would like to see him come home and that pragmatically speaking there was no hope of getting such legislation passed - after all he was surrounded by "right-wingers" who still want everything privatized!
So...huh?
Does this mean that he shouldn't go on record as supporting a "single-payer" health care? Does it mean that he should set his sights lower than what is morally right? Does it mean that we the people should let him off the hook?
The second occasion happened last night in a conversation with my veteran State Representative. I asked why the legislature had not gone on record demanding the return of Wisconsin's National Guard troops deployed in Iraq?
I was told that it wouldn't make any difference - W is the Commander In Chief - end of the story - he can send the troops wherever he wants.
What?
Not!!! Unless everyone rolls over and plays dead for him.
Every state legislature is condoning the massacre of its sons and daughters on foreign soil, when they enlisted to support their state's emergency needs. Deployment and redeployment overseas in mortal combat is more than they bargained for! And every legislator and Governor should be held accountable for their inaction and silence when they could and should be a powerful force to bring an end to a conflict - that is draining the individual states of their resources - human and financial - that could be put to positive and constructive use.
Silence on the part of any elected representative anywhere is simply wrong and cowardly - they should declare where they stand in public and on the record. We the people should not let them off the hook. Do they represent us?
Why doesn't Wisconsin's Governor lead and call on the Legislature to begin the process?
posted by Mark Sherman at 8:43 AM
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