Prove To Us That You're Still On Our Side
By Frank Salvato
June 22, 2007
There is little doubt that a heated debate is taking place over the issue of immigration reform. The alarming aspect of this debate is less the where, when and why it is taking place and more about who the debate is between. With an overwhelming majority (web site) of Americans from every political party in opposition to the current proposal being floated by select senators and the White House, it appears -- incredibly -- that the debate is actually between the people and our government.
Our nation is a Democratic Republic, a Representative Democracy. The electorate casts ballots to elect individuals to represent them in Washington DC. In turn, these elected officials are bestowed the authority to place votes representative of their constituents. In theory, these elected officials are charged with learning about and debating the issues so that the concerns of their constituents can be heard and the best interests of their constituents safeguarded. In the end, they cast their votes on pieces of legislation as representatives of their constituencies.
This is how it is supposed to work.
Most everyone has heard the expression, "inside the beltway mentality." It alludes to the attitude many elected officials develop once they are elected and acclimated to office. It is a kind way of saying that the pure motives they once had for wanting to serve their constituency have faded, replaced by the seduction of power. It is a gentle way of saying that they have forgotten from whence they came and for whom they work and are now drunken with a greed for political capital, addicted to the political game like crack-whores to the debilitating white rock which they crave.
"...power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." -- Lord Acton
The fact that a select group of senators hunkered down with members of the Bush Administration in secret to hammer out the provisions of anything should make every one of us suspect of their intentions and their motives. With the exception of intelligence gathering and select law enforcement operations, and war strategy and planning, our government should be as transparent as Paris Hilton's religious epiphany.
There are two things that can be stated today that few will argue with: 1) If someone is toting an AK-47 and is wearing a black mask adorned with Arabic he is usually a terrorist, and 2) If anyone in American government is contemplating legislation clandestinely they more often than not don't have their constituency's best interest in mind.
The piece of legislation currently being foisted upon the American people by Harry Reid, Lindsay Graham, John McCain, John Kyl, Ted Kennedy and President Bush does not best serve the interests of our citizenry or the well-being of our nation. It is a political tool crafted by those who place politics before good government and politicians worried more about their political longevity than honestly serving their constituents.
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