What brings people to start a blog? What makes me think that someone out there cares what I have to say? Am I that full of myself that I really think people want to spend even two minutes of their day reading what might be going through my mind, much less follow my ranting? Just who am I and who cares what I think?
I was once like plenty of others, just a kid in college being inspired with all sorts of great ideas. I was young and open minded and believed in things like freedom and democracy. I was told if I went to the polls on Election Day and voted my conscience that my vote would count and my opinion would be heard. I said I was young and open minded, but I guess it was more like I was a kid and gullible. I actually thought if I voted for someone and put them into a government position, that it was their job to do what I wanted them to do.
Then, as I got older, got married and had children I realized unfortunately that was not how life and politics worked. First of all, the person I voted for didn't always win. Then there were the times that I didn't get the person I voted for. My candidate might have won, but they kept letting me down. Every politician makes the same promises to fix education, fix healthcare and fix a slew of other issues and make America better than it was before. These politicians promise us the world but then they get into office. I now realize no one knows how hard it is to make all these changes until they get to Washington. I think once they get there they find out the realities of the system. I think the reality is that the system is broken.
The system hasn't worked in a very long time. Think about it. We have the United States Constitution that was written more than 200 years ago. A lot has changed in the past 20 years, much less the past 200 years. We live in a time of instant information yet we are following an outline for government that was written 70 years before the even the pony express existed. To say we live in a different world now than when the constitution was written is an enormous understatement to say the least.
Also, you can't tell me politicians have our best interest at heart when they continue to do things like cut funding for things such as education. Education is something we should be dumping money into any way we can. Educating kids is the only way we will survive as a country and year after year politicians are screwing teachers left and right and not raising the standards of education, they are dumbing things down so that more kids can pass. So what can I do? I volunteer at my children's school. That doesn't help hire more teachers. I donate supplies. But when teachers don't even have enough computer paper to print out tests anyone can see there is something really wrong.
So here I am an American citizen and I am frustrated with American government. I'm sick of the fighting back and forth, sick of how everyone is so split down party lines that no one can see past Republican and Democrat and simply do what is best for Americans and our country as a whole. And, education is just one example of how politicians are not looking out for us. So, how do I get my point across? How can I remind politicians of what is important? You know all those hard working people who barely have enough time to spend with their families? How do they have time get done what they need to in their everyday lives and have the time to get there needs heard by a politician. We all have the right to be heard. I think that politicians need to hear us. Not just shake our hand at a rally, sympathize with our stories and then keep on going to win an election. I mean really be heard. Aren't we are sick of what they are doing to us? Can we just say enough and refuse to take it anymore. We are a free country... that's what everyone says. But is that freedom getting us where we need to be as a country? How about as human beings?
I want to be heard and I am sure there are plenty of others out there thinking the same thing. We are all feeling helpless and wondering what we can do to change things. So, here I am. Blogging may not be the answer, but I have a right to free speech. I have the right to say what I am thinking. So, why the heck shouldn't I use it? And maybe, just maybe others will want to chime in. Then maybe, if enough of us say it, and we say it loud enough, maybe then Washington will hear it.
Jennifer@freetobeheard.com