Hey, Washington - Wake Up!

About a year ago, I wrote a blog encouraging the men and women we've sent to Washington to get together and find a way to get some work done.

Apparently they aren't reading this blog! 

Who knew?

This message is worth repeating to the honorable assemblymen and women of Wisconsin as well as those serving in the State Senate.

Wake Up!

Politicking and getting re-elected is all fine and good.  So is holding to whatever values you are claiming to hold close to your heart at the time.

But, in a representative democracy - which is what we have - we do not live in a pure democracy - the forefathers of this country expected there to be contentious debate and compromise when it came to the major issues of the day.

If compromise couldn't be found, it was expected that voters would speak by sending those who shared their views to Congress and the State Legislatures. 

Most congressional and state election districts now are drawn up so carefully that there is rarely a seriously contested seat where the candidates must work to the middle.  Consequently, the more determined voters of the right and left win out in their little corner of the world.  That leaves those who could find areas of agreement from both sides of the aisle don't have a platform to stand upon.

It's unlikely we can quickly change how legislative and congressional districts are drawn, but it's a battle worth fighting. 

Most national polls indicate that we, the people, are more centrist and compromising than those serving as our representatives.

What can help?

Prayer. 

Writing letters (actual letters, not the pre-written, sign your name here drivel put out by various interest groups) to your representatives.

Vote.

It seems to me we need our people in Washington, Madison, Indianapolis, and the other 48 statehouses to gather in a serious manner for serious discussions.  There's been enough monkey business (no, not Gary Hart's boat, this time) for long enough and we need serious people willing to work to get things done and not worry as much about being "right" or pleasing the punditry.

In fact, they shouldn't worry about pleasing us either.  The daily diet we Americans seem to want - "don't tax us - tax someone else;" provide us benefits with no cost; don't plan for the future mindset - is not working so well.

The United States wouldn't be the country it is today if Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt (Teddy and Franklin), Eisenhower, Kennedy, and even Reagan had only been concerned with their legacy and how things might reflect on them. 

We need a grown-up in office to let us know what we might not want to hear, and encourage a conversation that lasts for more than 140 characters.

There's no time like the present.  Let's not wait until the next fiscal cliff to pretend being serious while just kicking the can further down the primrose path.  Again.