Representation

Many of our blog visitors live nearby, many don't. Part of the information below will be most directly interesting to those in our area, but by no means should the rest of you skip this post. I have been somewhat impressed with the way our district's congressman has been working (newly elected this past Nov.); but even if you don't live in NJ 7th District, you can follow up on your own congressman by checking out www.house.gov.

As for my local representative, Congressman Leonard Lance, I think he's doing a pretty good job. I agree with him on many things - like his push to stop tax hikes, cause well, I like my money. But I do disagree on a few things as well - like his backing of extreme taxation of bonuses received by AIG executives... you know, despite the bonuses being legal, contracted, specifically accounted for in the bonus legislation, and the frightening precedent of using the IRS as a weapon wielded by weak-kneed politicians fluttering in the emotional winds of the current populace. But I digress.

What I do really like about Rep. Lance is that he seems to truly want to serve his constituents. I get regular emails and newsletters from his office that would normally annoy me a bit ("I'm Leonard Lance and look what I did!") except that they are also occasionally accompanied by mini-polls where you can directly let his office know where you stand on current hot-topics.

This is dangerous ground and could also potentially annoy me... as I inferred above, I'm not a fan of politicians who follow the current crowd trends; I'd rather have one that sticks by his standards even at the potential peril of his elected seat. Part of the reason we have a democratic republic rather than a straight-up democracy is that the elected officials are supposed to be more level headed than the general public... in theory at least. But I really think Rep. Lance has set things up nicely; generally his mini-polls are phrased as "Here's the issue, here's my stance, do you agree or disagree." He straight out says "this is how I feel", but also allows for people to counter him and send comments to his office explaining their own feelings. It may all be a facade (at least that's what the cynic in my head keeps telling me), but at least I feel like he's humble enough, or politically wise enough, to consider alternate views and concede that he may not always know everything (gasp!).

Anyway, my point here is that during a time when I believe most Americans (myself included) feel disenfranchised with the political system, it seems that we in NJ's 7th District have at least one ear willing to give our shouts a moment's thought. So those who live here and are interested in following Rep. Lance's progress, check out his home page and sign up for his emails. If you live elsewhere, look up your congressman and see if they too are lending their ear (and if they're not, make sure and force them to hear you with your vote when their seat comes up next).

I really love America, the ability we have to affect and control the government rather than being effected and controlled by the government, is an incredible blessing. And just with all blessings, there are pre-requisites to their continued reception; in this case it requires the majority of citizens to take part in the political process and to do what they can to be heard. If we ignore that right, one day we may wake up and no longer have it.

Labels: politics

posted by Brett at 5:54 PM