We hire our representatives to listen to us and then do what we ask of them. It isn't hard.
What becomes hard is when they have an agenda that competes with what we ask of them.
An election, if an incumbent has a viable opponent, becomes a binary job performance review - approve or disapprove. If the incumbent has a viable opponent, the fear of losing the seat becomes the thing that motivates them to actually listen to us and do what we ask. It's amazing what a little fear can do. Just look at the U.S. Senators up for re-election next year who suddenly feel inclined to push President Trump's nominees through confirmation after some initial hesitation. We shouted "Primary!" and suddenly everyone got on board.
Gallup, an opinion outfit I don't greatly trust for their lefty bias, recently polled the public about our Congressional critters and saw a stark jump in their normally low approval rating. That's the graphic that accompanies this post. Congress hasn't been this popular with Republican voters since August of 2005.
Yesterday, Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that he is inclined to codify President Trump's EOs into law.
"The president [has] 300 executive actions already, and we're going to codify so much of what he's doing so the next team can't unwind it," Johnson said.
If they do, then expect an even larger jump in approval.
With Mitch McConnell leaving after this term (thank God!), perhaps Thomas Massie can become the junior senator to Rand Paul in Kentucky. And hopefully, Ken Paxton replaces John Cornyn. If so, I expect exuberant parties will be thrown everywhere.
Make Congress Great Again. My goodness, that could happen.
6 Comments
. . . but, how do you pronounce MCGA? macga?
Maybe it's Irish. McGa.
After having been ignored for decades now, finally, we have their attention, for a little while.
These elitist run for office to make themselves feel important. RARELY does a patriot selflessly set his life on hold to be a true representative. In my opinion, we are in part to blame. When they are back in their districts, we laud over them, pat them on the back, praise them for who they think they are. When in fact they deserve nothing less than critiquing for a less than stellar performance.
Brett and I experienced this in a podcast interview with Congressman Moran. In our interview he pointed out the 19 bills he submitted only to be called out by Brett for not once CUTTING federal spending. Not once!
It's rediculas to believe there is any other subject that needs to be addressed other than cutting spending. Nothing trumps the crippling effect on our Nation greater than the fact that we are paying something like 80 million dollars a day in interest?? (I may be off on that figure. It could be more.)
Ron Paul, during his entire congressional career never once voted for any increase, not once, ever. Imagine if we had 50, 75 or even 100 reps with his approach to the federal spending? With every "agency" created comes increase spending. Period! Rep. Moran proposed in legislation to create increases in spending. Not reduction. Its really simple as has been witnessed by President Trump. Cut, not reduce.
Continuing to find D.C. answers is to deny states rights to manage their own interests. Fed dollars returned to the states with strings is rediculas.
But it will always take more than simply voting. It will take citizens getting off of their behinds and actively engaging 365 days a year. There are a number of ways to do this.
Julie McCarty has True Texas Project in Texas. Since I now live in Alabama, I have joined Tactical Civics which was founded by David Zuniga from the hill country on Texas.
Both groups emphasize citizenship versus politics and the two are miles apart.
While encouraging, it takes consistent discipline on OUR PARTS to ensure their improved behavior continues. Children seldom misbehave when they know we’re looking at them directly. When our attention wanders, they often ‘test us’. Good parenting takes effort to produce great results. We are charged with 535 political ‘children’. Some will need to be taken to the woodshed. A precious few will earn a cupcake.
For the past few decades, Dems and Reps have been very predictable:
- Dems think big business is evil. Reps think big government is evil. They are both right: the enemy is BIG!
- Dems want to raise taxes. Reps want to lower taxes. Nobody wants to lower spending. Trump has Executive branch consultants running DOGE because Congress won't do its job.
- Once they get to Washington, they are measured and get committee appointments based on how much legislation they ADD. Let's see incentives for reducing spending.
We voters need to keep their feet to the fire to lower spending. Yes, codify the spending reductions so we aren't back in the same bankrupt condition again. EVERYTHING needs to be measured against Article I, Section 8.