Glenden BrownVoting tomorrow is the beginning
Tomorrow is election day and it’s an important election day. Current consensus leans toward a Democratic house, good chance of a Democratic Senate.
Vote tomorrow - it’s important. But don’t stop there.
Voting is the beginning of citizen involvement, not the end. Every year since 1999, I have attended at least one full day at the state legislature, attending for two days for several years. I write emails and letters to members of Congress and the state legislature. I called Rocky’s office with regard to several important campaigns. A few years ago, I visited the legislature with sample language for a bill. Earlier this year, I had the honor of attending the signing ceremony for the Hate Crimes bill. Because of my involvement, I’ve had opportunities that far too few people enjoy - to attend and participate in debates between candidates at the city, state, and Congressional level. Because of my involvement, I’ve had the opportunity to speak at press conferences, to attend rallies, to address the public on behalf of social justice issues. It is both an honor and personal growth experience (I’m an introvert) to be in the public eye, even if it’s for a moment or two. If one person is inspired to get involved, to become an advocate for social justice, it is worth it to me.
The phrase government of the people, by the people, for the people isn’t an empty phrase. Our elected officials are answerable to us - not just on election day, but every day between elections. Government of people means and should mean that all of us contact our elected representatives on important issues. Our representatives are not nobles. They are not better than we. They serve at our pleasure. And when they cease to serve our interests, they no longer deserve their offices. For instance, Chris Cannon has shown himslef to be unapologetically one of the most corrupt members of Congress. He serves only himself and as such no longer deserves the office of Representative. He stopped serving the people.
Orrin Hatch refused to debate Pete Ashdown at KUED. In my view, Hatch no longer deserves to serve the people if he isn’t willing to engage in public debate. He can offer all the whining excuses he wants, Orrin Hatch looks upon the Senate seat from Utah as his and does not serve the citizens well.
Too many state legislators in Utah act as if it is their right to be legislators rather than a great honor and position of trust. They have encouraged rules at the capitol that would all but end citizen activism at the Capitol during legislative session. Too many support “free speech zones” - as if they are afraid to hear what we have to say because we probably contradict them. They need to go.
It’s time for a thorough house cleaning. The government no longer belongs to the people and it’s long past time we take it back. Vote tomorrow. But don’t forget that voting tomorrow is the first not the last act of citizen involvement in the government. We deserve representative, responsive, responsible government. And we won’t get it until we hold our elected officials 100% accountable to the people. It’s time for a change. And the only way we will see change is when the people demand it.
November 7th, 2006 at 10:12 am
I’ve been up to the legislature a few times for hearings. You squeeze into a crowded room and immediately realize there is no way you will get a chance to be heard in the short time allotted. Then you find out that nobody from your side of the issue will even get to speak. Then, later, you discover that the whole thing was decided before the hearing in a closed caucus.
November 7th, 2006 at 10:53 am
Richard - believe me, I’ve been in the same place more than once. That’s why we need a massive change in Utah politics - we need stronger “sunshine” laws that require the business of the people actually be conducted in public. We have to hold our legislators accountable for that kind of behavior - we have to bring public scrutiny and anger. I think we need to say, “Look whether agree or disagree with the decision, our legislature should not ever make decisions in private. It’s not good politics. It undermines democracy. It’s an attack on the rights of voters.”
I’m a member of the Coaltion of Religious Communities and do our best to shine a light on these practices. Other groups do the same - but in the end, the problem is a culture of secrecy in our legislature. We need new leaders who embrace openness. The current crop of legislative leaders is a bunch of glad handing insiders who believe they should dictate to us rather than be answerable to us.