|
Rarely can two suggestions change the political landscape and efficiency of Govt on Capitol Hill at the same time. However, I believe if Pelosi implements these two suggestions we indeed will reap both benefits at a most critical time for our Nation.
#1 - The House of Representatives is "The People's House", and therefore everything it does should be fully TRANSPARENT to the people it serves. A concerted effort should be put forth to open every committee and function and transaction on the floor of the House to full public disclosure. Open the doors, invite the public in, and if necessary move committee hearings to larger venues "off the Hill" if necessary --but make room for every media representative, as well as many citizens as possible, provide full public disclosure of actions being taken in 'plain language' summaries, appear before the people and answer questions about what they doing and why, and publish a schedule of actions to be taken and where several times a week. This means more manpower will be needed, and leads to suggestion #2. But the bottom line for this suggestion is that the people need to be fully informed about what is being done on their watch, why it is being done, and not leave it up to political pundits to mischaracterize the foregoing for the American people. Pulling back the twin veils of secrecy and mischaracterization of Democratic actions and motives will not only promote more efficient government but will instill confidence in the Public that the House is "working for them for a change."
#2 - The Speaker of the House must substantially increase the working staffs of each Committee of the House which is involved in investigating matters of public corruption. The breadth and depth of government induced and/or condoned corruption facing this Congress is beyond the present physical resources available to the incoming Committee chairs for investigation of same. We must not fail to investigate because there are not enough support staff and resources to go around. There are lots of patriots willing to work for paltry sums of compensation if the House shows the inclination that it is serious about rooting out corruption and restoring the Government to the people. Even so, where will the funds to do this come from? Draw those funds from every nook and cranny available, and make sure the public knows you are sacrificing to bring the Government back to the people. Cut House perks, withhold non-essential Representative payments, cut expenditures for office furniture if you have to, but get the dollars and the people on the same page and begin to "transparently put the House in order."
If you think that the recent election was "a wave", you have seen nothing yet. THere is a reason only 40% of people show up at the polls to vote. That reason is that people lost faith in their Government and Representatives to truly represent them, and therefore think their vote means little.
If we adopt these two suggestions, people will flow back to the polls in numbers unlike any we have ever seen in this country.
Couple the above two suggestions with 'real' campaign finance reform, and deal swiftly and harshly with all future corruption in the House, and there will not be a need for massive spending to be reelected. People know real representation when they see it, because it impacts their everyday life.
Ms. Pelosi, this is the opportunity that comes along very rarely. Be up to the challenge, honestly address the challenges by adopting these suggestions, and every American will remember when they got "their" Government back.
The above could apply to the Senate as well, but the turn over in seats is much slower and the majority much smaller. If the House embarks on this path, the voters will make their wishes known at the ballot box and hopefully the Senate will follow the House's example.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
