They always have an answer

Here in the USA we are said to have a democratic republic. We elect from our peers people to make decisions for us concerning our governance--city, county/parish, state, country. What do we expect of these officials we have just elected?

Well, it depends upon our feelings about the individual issues on which they make determinations on our behalf. Sometimes these issues are put on ballots so we make the decision in place of them. Isn't that democracy in its purest form--all having a say on what will or will not be? The majority (of those voting) win!

I remember my government teacher, Mr. Dandridge, in high school saying this isn't always right. Why not? Because the needs of the minority must be respected and protected and taken into consideration when decisions are made. Majority rule was not always right.

I still have issues with that focus on many topics facing our governments. Protection, sure. But to deny the majority their choice doesn't sit well with me; it appears then that we have minority rule?

Over the years I have listened to our reps tell us why they have voted on items before them the way they have. "You elected me to vote for what YOU want." Ah, democracy with majority wins! "You elected me to gather the facts and make the decision FOR you." Uh oh. What we, the majority, told you to do you aren't going to do? "You elected me because of what I believe (political party?) should be the focus of our government." Majority OF THOSE WHO VOTED gets to determine how things go? [This is not a true majority since so few eligible voters here in the US actually do vote.]

Have you noticed, as I have, that our reps flip around all three of these reasons to suit their needs? Whatever fits.

No wonder so many people don't vote. How can you feel your vote really counts for anything when the elected choose to do whatever they want to do? But, even with all these bumps in the process, by voting we still get to let our governments know what we want. And with term limits we get to oust those that don't do the job the way we want.

In a culture of instant everything, it is difficult for us to accept that government isn't an instant thing. It can take 10 to 20 years-with many changes in reps-before issues can be resolved by our elected officials and then 10 to 20 more years to see the results we wanted in the beginning. That's half a lifetime! Geeze, waiting nine months for a child was too long for many of us.

There is always a ready reason for why things in governments just don't get done or done the way we want them. But if we don't vote we don't have a right to complain. So vote and then you too can complain or praise the workings of your governments. Better yet--why don't you run for office in any of your governments.