(Cartoon image is by Steve Sack in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.)There are many U.S. citizens who think they have no voice in the way their country is run. They don't vote, and they don't bother to let their elected officials know how they feel. But they are wrong. And that was proven in the last few days.
At their caucus the other day, the Republicans voted to gut the independent ethics panel that investigates those in Congress. Basically, they wanted to make it so that panel could not investigate anyone without the permission of Congress (the people they are supposed to investigate). They must have thought the public wouldn't care, or that they could sneak these changes through without the public knowing -- but that was stupid of them.
The minute it was known, they were flooded with calls from the public, and they were angry calls -- accusing them of trying to hide their own misconduct. There were so many calls, from people on both the right and left, that the Republicans quickly met again, and decided not to change the ethics panel rules. They gave in to public pressure.
Public pressure works. The one thing everyone in Congress is scared of is an angry public. So, don't be afraid to let your congresspeople know what you think. If you are unhappy with them, call or e-mail or write them. If enough of us do that, our voice will be heard, and maybe even heeded.
