I'm pretty politically ignorant, at times thinking of myself more as apolitical than anything, but I'm reading David Foster Wallace's "The Pale King" and it's re-awakening my political side.
I've been Googling and trying to think of something I can do, but am falling short.
Do I call my state's representatives?
Do I send them letters or emails?
What can I do?
Unfortunately, American congressmen cannot be recalled, so the only way to remove congressmen who are deliberately trying to break the democratic process would be through impeachment. While I suspect most Republicans would like to clean house and get rid of the Tea Partiers, I doubt they would attempt to do so this way. I'm afraid the only thing you can do is remember to never vote to put someone who claims to hate government into the government. They just might be telling the truth.
The mind blowing thing is that a lot of reporters have said that there are 100-150 GOP Congressmen who would vote to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling if the vote was by secret ballot. They're afraid of being "primaried". Read: "I like my job waaaaay more than I like 1,000,000 public sector worker jobs and a functioning economy."
I just read a description of a survey which indicated that almost 1/5 of the people who voted Republican in the last election are Tea Partiers and 1/4 are evangelicals. The Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot by appealing to these fringe groups.There are 100-150 GOP Congressmen who ... [a]re afraid of being "primaried".
I'm afraid the only thing you can do is remember to never vote to put someone who claims to hate government into the government. They just might be telling the truth.
Well said NotPhil.
Everyone hates congress but loves their congressman. That's the problem. They all capitulate on the hill and break, break, break. Then they come home to their districts and talk about how broken Washington is.
Oh man, you have no idea. I live in Indiana so I've had Mitch for 22 years and counting. If we try to get anything done it gets shot down because nothing ever gets done in congress for this reason. Hopefully later this month I will be able to go out to DC for a huge march and talk to some people but its doubtful.
Good luck, I appreciate your desire to effect change. Let me know if anything comes from the DC march. When is it scheduled? Any particular cause?
Honestly, at this point, I just feel like voting against every single incumbent in federal office regardless of party at my next opportunity.