2013: The Year Of Legislative Accountability

The year 2013 brings with it a brave new world of polarized politics in the United States. The country is more divided now than I can ever remember. Frankly, I find it progressively more annoying. The sensationalism of the media certainly doesn’t make the situation any better.

There are now seemingly countless issues that are becoming more and more polarized. Prime example: the fiscal cliff. Add to that health care reform. How about a side order of gun control, women’s rights, and immigration reform?

So here’s a thought. Let us move from the “Year of Polarized Diatribe” to the “Year of Legislative Accountability”. Be it local, state, or federal, it is time to take control over the issues at hand and demand accountability from our representatives. Either legislators stand up and face the music, or we fiddle and complain incessantly while Rome burns before our very eyes.

The problem starts with the current status of the US Congress, which appears to be increasingly disconnected from the American public.

For starters, keep in mind that there are 100 senators and 435 representatives in Congress. In 2011, a rank-and-file member of Congress “earned” $174,000. That is a lot of money for representatives to display behaviors unworthy of most adolescents. The word is “compromise”, people.

When you add lobbyist campaign contributions to the mix, the problems mount. There were 12,719 lobbyists in 2011, and total lobbying spending amounted to $3.33 billion. Yes, you read those numbers correctly. As but one example, six of the top 20 lobbying clients in 2011 were health-care-related. These six accounted for $110,867,949 or 3.3% of total lobbying spending. In case you were curious, here are the six:

Blue Cross/Blue Shield (#4) - $21,585,802

American Medical Association (#5) - $21,500,000

American Hospital Association (#6) - $20,812,147

Pharmaceutical Research And Manufacturers of America (#10) - $18,910,000

AARP (#14) - $15,170,000

Much of that money is making its way into legislators’ pockets. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees.

It’s a pretty sweet gig.

Compare this to the demographics of “we the people”. In 2011, the median household income was $50,054. Congress? The top 5% – and that’s just their base salary, not accounting for campaign contributions. There are 48.6 million people uninsured, which accounts for 15.7% of the population. In 2011, 25.4 percent of people in households with annual income less than $25,000 had no health insurance coverage, whereas only 7.8 percent of people in households with income of $75,000 or more were uninsured.

Congress has rapidly diminishing relevance to the voting populace anymore.

My question to legislators is simple. If you were living the life of the average American, would you make the legislative decisions (or lack of decisions) that you currently make? If you were on the same health care plans (or lack thereof), or if you didn’t have lobbyists in your pockets, would you make better, more timely decisions with the best of your constituents in the forefront?

Citizens, it is time to stand up for the country. It doesn’t require massive revolt.

Lest I remind you:

“ … certain unalienable rights …that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Make this the Year Of Legislative Accountability. Demand accountability from those that are being paid to represent you at the local, state, and federal levels. If we do so, we can – and will - restore the lustre on this fine nation, and bring the power back to the people. Where the Founding Fathers wanted it in the first place.

Photo credits: Oneras