How to Change Washington

The bipartisan public fury over the healthcare debate is merely the latest indication that we are being governed not by our elected representatives, but rather, by the two parties. Both the republican and democratic parties have entrenched themselves so deeply with companies and special interest groups with money that the average citizen is not even a cog in the machine, but merely a bystander. The other day, a Democratic representatives stated flat out that he would vote against the interests of his constituency. At one point in time, the term representative meant just that, represent. It does not anymore.

This is not to say that there are not good democrats and republicans out there. Despite what each side wishes you to believe, there are good people on each side of the aisle. These people, though few in number, come to Washington and their own state capitals hoping to do something, to make what they feel is a positive change. Unfortunately, they are a very small minority.

How do we change it? There have been a lot of debates about how term limits is going to solve the problem, but there is exactly a zero percent chance of either party making an effort to pass any law that limits the flow of money and power into the system. The grooves are too deep and the skids are too greased for any person in the two current major parties to attempt to make a change.

How do we do it? We have to start anew. A new party, though minor, needs to make the bold statement that they will not operate in a manner to the detriment of their constituents. It is the only way to bring the power back to the states, to the communities, and most importantly, to the people.

Every person, EVERY person is important. Our voices should ring louder than the flood of money going into the parties. Our representatives should look to us first for direction. They should feel that they are accountable to us. When our representatives discount and deride our dissenting voices, they trample upon the Constitution.