Take a stroll through Facebook at any given time and you'll find at least one -- and likely multiple -- posts involving the advocating of removing and/or holding accountable members of congress. Today, I saw a post that has a picture accompanying it that breaks down and simplifies the current budget and deficit problems our country faces. The post's owner wrote "When are we gonna hold Congress accountable?"
Over the few years I've been on Facebook, I've seen hundreds, maybe thousands of posts urging us to hold them accountable, write our congressperson, or even kick 'em all out and start over.
But see, therein lies the problem: I don't have the ability to kick congress out and start over. I only have the ability to affect three congressmen out of the nearly 700. And so do you. I can attempt to kick out only one House member, and two Senators, and that chance only comes every couple of years.
The problem is that everybody thinks everybody in Congress is terrible at their jobs -- except for their own guy or girl. You see, if I didn't think my guy was any good, (or at least me and the majority of my neighbors) he wouldn't be in the job in the first place. Most people think, "Everybody in Congress is a bunch of crooks -- except my guy."
I like my representative. That's why I voted for him. I usually like my Senators. Most of the time, my guy wins. He didn't this year, but I digress. Somebody (actually, a lot of people) apparently really likes Nancy Pelosi, although I can't for the sake of God figure out why.
In today's divided climate, ask any voter (and people who don't vote, but complain anyway) whether we should kick everybody out and start over, and most will probably say yes. But we don't have the power to do that. We can only vote for our guy! And if people are unwilling to oust their guy, then nothing is really ever going to change.
Personally, I think Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and others of their ilk are a big part of the problem in which this county now finds itself, but I don't get to vote for them. And as much as I hate to admit it, that's a good thing. In as much as I'm sure the folks out in California don't want some hayseed like me from Indiana voting for the people who would represent them, I sure don't want those nutbars from San Francisco voting for the guy who represents me.
And that's an important principle to understand. I voted for Dan Coats and Todd Young so that they would do what they think is best for me and my neighbors. I'd like to think they will always look at the big picture, but the reality is that I don't want them looking out for the people of California, or Montana, or New Jersey, or the Virgin Islands for that matter. I want them looking out for me. And if you're honest, you want the same from your representatives. I didn't vote for my reps so they would further the agenda of New York City. I voted for them so they will further the agenda of Mooresville, Indiana.
Don't misunderstand: I'm not at all saying you shouldn't vote. In fact, I don't think enough people vote. I certainly don't think enough informed people vote -- or maybe I should say too many uninformed people vote. In either case, I think its extremely important to vote for representative you believe values the same ideals and standards as yourself. And hope and pray others do the same.
There's a lot broken in Congress. I believe that. And I believe if they don't have a collective change of heart soon then there's going to be hell to pay -- literally. But while I don't have the power to kick 'em all out and start over, I can hope and pray that enough people value the same things I do -- God, family, small government, wise budgeting and spending, personal responsibility, and a strong military and sense of freedom -- and will vote those values when they have the chance. By doing so, perhaps they will tip the majority in that direction. With congress so evenly divided, it is during these times when we truly see how important it is to have even just one right person voting in our favor.
And remember this when you do vote: both sides feel the same way.
