Late last night the US Senate passed the massive Wall Street bailout—which went from three pages a week ago to the size of a novel after Congressional input. Both of California’s US Senators, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, voted for the bailout. The courageous House Republicans, who just a few days ago stood up to enormous pressure to approve the bailout, will now be under even greater pressure from lobbyists and Wall Street to follow suit. But the reason many Republicans (and Democrats), including my congressman, John Doolittle, voted against the $700 billion bailout is because they were receiving unprecedented contact from their constituents. Fearful of losing their elections next month, members actually listened to those they were sent to Washington, DC, to represent.
The House of Representatives’ web site was overwhelmed because of all the hits and emails. The American People—thanks mostly to the new media—are informed and engaged and they want their voice heard on an act so monumental that it will impact our country for decades to come.
With so many constituents calling their congressmen and senators, it is puzzling and infuriating that some lawmakers believe they know better than the people they supposedly represent. Granted, we send representatives to Washington, DC, in order to understand these issues in detail and then take action that will benefit our nation. However, as soon as they cross the Potomac (or the American River) too many legislators suddenly embrace the belief that the American people are uninformed, benighted fools who need to be rescued by their erudite, omniscient lawmakers. Although we are a democratic republic, meaning that we are safe from the capricious actions of a majority-rules democracy, our representatives should still represent the people.
According to Senator Feinstein, her office received more than 91,000 calls from constituents, with 85,000 of the calls opposing the bailout. Another blogger reported that “Feinstein had to double staff in her five offices to deal with the outcry from constituents. A Hill staffer answering phones this week told me, ‘This is the biggest public opinion storm we’ve ever had to deal with, and it’s decidedly against passing this.’"
This begs the question, if leaders are receiving the loudest public outcry they’ve ever experienced, shouldn’t they be listening to their constituents? While the American people may not have every detail or fact about this problem, they are still wise enough to understand when government is taking on responsibilities and powers outside of its jurisdiction. It’s time for our senators and congressmen to walk a few blocks to the Lincoln Memorial and read the words carved in its walls. Government is “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 am
I’m not going to argue whether or not I think the bailout is right, but I will address the issue of representative democracy.
What Turner argues is actually half of an arguement that is worth considering:
Should elected representatives in a Republic (1) vote how they think the majority of their electorate thinks they should vote; or (2) use their own judgement, at times with more information, when determining how to vote.
There are obvious political problems with not choosing (1) and obvious actual policy problems with not choosing (2).