Where Are We
WHERE IS WE THE PEOPLE?
No, it is not a grammatical error. “IS”, is the proper verb for “We The People”. “We The People”, is a singular noun, a singular group.
But where is it, “We The People”? First, let us consider this; Republic. As defined by Webster’s: A) a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who
in modern times is usually a president ; B) a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and
representatives responsible to them and governing according to law (2): a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government.
I hope that sounds familiar. Our nation is a republic, and our government, that represents us, is a republican government, in a democratic fashion. Meaning; relating to, appealing to, or available to the broad masses of people. The broad mass of people, is the majority. A government of the people, for the people, by the people. But, how many of us believe that the government that represents us today, meaning those men and women residing in office, is truly representative of “the people”? I do not.
I believe that they think they know, better than we do, how to manage our lives. Let it be said again, a government of the people, for the people, by the people. I would also like to repeat part B of the definition of republic. A government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them (the body of citizens) and governing according to law. Supreme power resides within a body of citizens. Representatives responsible to those citizens. We, are those citizens. We, are “We The People”.
But where are we? What happened to us? Why are those representatives, who we elected, that are responsible to us, being allowed to govern in the manner that they are governing? I am sure that they would say, that they do not think that they know better, than we do, how to manage our lives. They would say, that they are not trying to manage our lives. They would say they are managing the country.
Although, their decisions affect how we manage our lives. Those decisions are suppose to affect us in a positive light. Not to be detrimental. After all, it is a government for the people. How positive can their recent decisions be for us? How positive can the known agenda of the controlling political party be to the average American citizen. The “We The People”? I am not going to talk about those recent decisions that I just mentioned. If you do not know what those are, then you are failing to do your part, as a citizen. That, is what I will talk about. Yes, we as citizens have responsibilities. Responsibilities to our society. To our community. To our nation. Who am I to question anyone about this? I am one you. I have failed also. I neglected those duties. I regret that I did. But I will no longer! I can’t! I have another responsibility to uphold. That is the responsibility to my daughter. That her future life be, at the very least, as good as mine has been.
I don’t think that any parent has a different view. We all want our children to have the opportunities and freedoms we have enjoyed. Right? We, surely, do not want them to have less. Right? Well, then we have to stand up, and do what we need to do, in order to preserve, and promote those same opportunities, and freedoms, that we have all enjoyed, our entire lives. Our failure, of our duties as citizens, is a circumstance of our success. What?! I will explain. But first, what are our duties, as citizens of a republic? I hope we all know that we live in the best country in the world. If you don’t know that, just go to another country, and see for yourself.
Talk to the citizens there. You will soon learn that we have been greatly blessed. How do I know this? I have been there, and I have done just that. Our responsibilities, as I see them, are to pay attention to what our representation is doing, take part in the processes of the choosing of that representation, and take what action is needed in order to hold those representatives accountable for their actions. The way I see it, each and every representative, whether it be a state or federal, Senator, or member of the House, is our employee. They work for us. We pay their salary, we provide their insurance, their pension, and all the other benefits they receive.
Plain and simple. We are their boss. They are responsible to us, not responsible for us, but to us. I still believe that we can be responsible for ourselves. Don’t you?
Now, how is our failure, or maybe I should say neglect, a circumstance of success? Have not all of us been putting our noses to the proverbial grindstone, doing what we can to provide for all the needs, and comforts, for our families, or ourselves? We all know the effort, the perseverance, the dedication that it requires. We’re all tired at the end the day.
The week never seems to end. For some, it never does. Our success is the fact that we enjoy having the capability of providing for ourselves and our families. For the most part, most of us have succeeded in doing so. I’m not saying that it has been, or will be, easy. As I have said, we all understand the effort that we have to put forth. In doing what we have had to do, we have neglected our duties as citizens of the republic, our nation. We wake each morning, get ourselves, our kids, ready for the day, do what is required throughout the day, then return to the business of our homes. Time is short, days are hectic. We just don’t consider it necessary to take into account what our representatives are doing on our behalf. But we should. We must. Without doing that, they will only do what they think best.
They must be held accountable for the decisions they make, for the burdens they place upon us. The burdens are growing. Our government has the mindset that it is their job to fix all the problems that are occurring in our country. But they can’t. It seems that they think putting more money toward ailing systems is a fix all. Even in systems that they are not a part of. Private business. Public health care. Our free enterprise/market. That is where a large part of the problem resides.
Our government is overstepping its bounds. It is putting its nose where it doesn’t belong. In doing so, its forcing its way into our private lives, more and more. Each and every dollar, every cent, that the government has, will have, and ever has had, comes from taxes and levies placed upon we, the taxpayer, business, both large and small, and foreign business, in the form of import taxes. It has no other way of producing income. It is our duty to provide funding for the government, but it should only be for those programs that are truly beneficial. Beneficial to the majority, not the minority, not special interests, not big businesses, and most certainly not to those who are in our country illegally. In our daily lives, we have striven to do what our families need us to do.
It has now become apparent that we must broaden our scope of consistent responsibilities, which consists of paying attention to the actions of that representation. If we don’t, it is not only going to affect us, in the present, and very near future, but our children, in their future lives.
Do you feel that the only time your voice can be heard is election time? That is not the case! If you are upset with the way things are going, what is stopping you from contacting your representatives? Do we not live in the age of technology? Do you feel it isn’t worth your effort? What is more worthy of your effort than the future of our children? Don’t have the time? Really? How many games of solitare do you play in a day? How many times, during the day do you surf the web? Doing what? Shopping, or just browsing? My representation knows exactly where I stand, and what I expect from them. It’s easy.
In one way or another, responses, and replies do come. www.congress.org is just one site, in which you can contact your representatives, both Senate and House, email them, have a letter hand delivered to them, keep up with their votes (to know whether or not they are representing your interests), gain information on bills being debated, have alerts sent to you on proposed bills, ect. I’m sure that there are many other sites out there also.
Do you like where we are heading, as a nation? If not, but still you do nothing, then frankly, why should you complain. I know, “I’m just one person, what I say, think, and believe, doesn’t hold up in the big picture.” That’s my point!! Where is “We the People”?!!
Let’s look at it again. A government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law. Yes, one voice cannot be heard. But a mass of voices, in unison, can be, and will be heard.
We should be a choir, singing together. There is power in numbers. It cannot be denied. But if you, as an individual, do not participate, then the choir is weakened. We need to remember, or maybe we need to realize, our country, and our form government, was founded for the individual. The document that devised, and laid out the responsibilities and duties of our government, the Constitution, was put into action to protect the rights of the individual. The government is to represent the majority. Which has to be a group of individuals. But if the majority is silent, if it does not make itself heard, who will the government represent?
It will, and seems to be in the present, represent those who cry the loudest. That is why I say, we have failed in our duties. We have allowed a small portion of our society to hold sway over our representation. Different portions for different results. If we do not speak up, if we do not make our stand, this will continue. But, in order to have a strong, resilient group, it requires individual effort, and persistence. Do not think that your views, opinions, beliefs, wants, and needs are yours alone. You know that they are not. Many of us, I would venture to say, or believe, are of a like mind. We just have to band together. The apparatus is already in place. Groups are already out there. You, we, as individuals, just need to seek them out, join with them, and make them a formidable voice to be heard, and taken with all seriousness. We’ve all heard it, “freedom isn’t free”. That statement is true. Liberty isn’t either.
I’m not asking for donations in monitory form. Effort, diligence, persistence, is what is needed. Our time is our most valuable commodity. We should spend it on something that is worthwhile, and long lasting. Do we not owe it to our children, our grandchildren, to do just that? People have, and still are, risking their lives (and of course many have lost their lives) protecting and promoting the way of life we have always known. There is absolutely no risk in participating in the manner that I have suggested. Our apathy, if it continues, will be the end of our way of life. We must rise up. We must make our stand. Revolution is in the air.
It was a revolt that formed this great nation. Will it be a revolt, that is needed, for the return of it? A return to, a government of the people, for the people, by the people. America has always been a country of self-reliant, do it yourselfers. Will we do it ourselves, and control our own destiny? Or will we rely on others, and give them that control? I am not a sheep to be herded into a corral. I am a wolf in control of my own. At least I am taking what measures I can to protect my own. Which are you? Where are you, We the People?
