“If we hope to rescue our Republic, all of our attention, all of our efforts must be concentrated on repairing the damage done to our Constitution over the past decade.”

Why is it so hard to get good help these days? What is so difficult about doing the job you have been selected to do? United States citizens (henceforth known as we/our/us) are in a quandary due to the lack of true representation we have in Washington, D.C. According to an article in the New York Times, Forty-five percent of the voters in New Hampshire are neither Democrat nor Republican.

In a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll, sixty-plus percent of respondents say they think the country is headed in the wrong direction. In this same poll, sixty-plus percent said they disapproved of both the way President Bush was handling the presidency and the situation in Iraq. This, however, does not put the Democrats in the clear, as sixty-plus percent of respondents are also unhappy with the performance of our Representatives (henceforth known as you/your) in Congress.

So what does this mean for our country? Well…let me spell it out for you…

It is time for you to listen to your constituency. As you make laws that affect ALL of US, it is time for you to realize your constituency consists of ALL United States citizens. If you are on a committee in Congress, it is time for you to realize your constituency consists of ALL United States citizens. I have recently tried to contact members of Congress on committees only to find that, while you are interested in my concerns, I should just contact MY Representative in MY state. I contacted YOU because YOU were on a committee that I was concerned about. I contacted YOU because that was a direct path to my interest.

“…This infection began with the Republicans, but our problems stem from the fact that it didn’t end with our Democrats…”

Your voting record, as a whole, on Constitutional issues is ghastly. We send you to Washington, D.C. to protect our freedoms. You choose to ignore this and give them away. No wonder your approval rating is the lowest it has been in fourteen years. While you are trying, through legislation like both versions of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Protect America Act of 2007, and the more recent Violent Radicalization and Home Grown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007, to find new ways to use our rights against us or simply take our rights and label us “home grown terrorists,” we view YOU as domestic enemies because of your contemptible stand for our freedoms and our beloved Constitution.

It is time for you to realize we did not elect you to dictate rights to us that we clearly understand, but you obviously fail to comprehend. Telling us that we need to “redefine privacy” is lunacy, at best. Our rights are inalienable. Do you remember that word? That means we cannot give them back, and you cannot take them. They are ours. Yet, instead of being happy to just enforce our treasured Bill of Rights, you feel we need MORE legislation, to the point that even YOU could not remember all of it. Ever heard of KISS-keep it simple, stupid?

“…to secure these rights, Governments…deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” Declaration of Independence

We are frustrated with you and you should know that we are watching you…ALL of you! So are many others, as indicated by the NBC/Wall Street Journal Poll sited above. According to the poll, fifty-one percent of the respondents said they would elect someone new, rather than give you another chance. You have let us down and we are ready for you to go.

Something else you should know…communication is a powerful tool. Many of us communicate with people nationally, as well as internationally. If you miss-step, people will find out, people all over the world…I have been to Washington D.C. twice and heard the voices of We-The-People as they exercise their right to be heard in and around the Washington Mall. It is impressive! Are you listening?

It is past time for you to understand what the average United States citizen is thinking. We would gladly want you to stay, if you were upholding the Constitutional values we all cherish, but, your actions, in the way of your votes, say otherwise.

Our Constitution provides for the citizenry to electing representatives, and on that, we, as citizens, uphold our civic duty. You, as our elected representatives, on the other hand, continually disappoint in your effort, or lack thereof, to uphold your duty. We, as your “employers,” expect better of you. If you want to stay in our “employment,” we expect you to be honest and forthright and do what your job description says…”support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…” (Sound familiar? It is part of your oath of office!)

Endnotes:

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/071107_NBC-WSJ_Full.pdf

NBC News Wall Street Journal Survey

HR 3162 (107th) Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-3162

HR 3199 (109th) USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-3199

S 1927 (110th) Protect America Act of 2007

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1927

HR 1955 Violent Radicalization and Home Grown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1955

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode05/usc_sec_05_00003331----000-.html

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

All quotes, unless otherwise noted, courtesy of the upcoming documentary, “Washington, You’re Fired.” www.takebackwashington.com