#capitol switchboard

                           I am not upset with you for being so curt with me this afternoon, I understand that you’ve had to deal with a lot lately, and it’s probably going to get worst. Take care of yourself and remember people’s rage isn’t meant for you, but for those that have been blinded by short term greed and the title of “winner”.

H.R. 676 Introduced into 114th Congress

  Washington, DC.    On Tuesday, February 3, 2015, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) reintroduced HR 676, his single payer Improved Medicare for All  legislation, in the current 114th session of Congress.  H.R. 676 has been introduced with 44 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. 

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)

Calls to congressional offices by supporters of single payer healthcare have already…

H.R. 676 Introduced into 114th Congress

  Washington, DC.    On Tuesday, February 3, 2015, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) reintroduced HR 676, his single payer Improved Medicare for All  legislation, in the current 114th session of Congress.  H.R. 676 has been introduced with 44 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. 

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)

Calls to congressional offices by supporters of single payer healthcare have already…

Especially recently. It is easy even for the most politically outspoken of us to feel disillusioned as a result of the inability of Congress to get anything important done without it turning into a completely partisan and political rhetoric fest. 

Everybody is feeling frustrated, tired, and kind of scared. I know I feel that way. I'm scared about what happens to women in Texas, and all of the other states with increasingly restrictive laws on abortion access, who can't afford to wait 24 hours, much less an abortion procedure without healthcare coverage. I'm scared for all of the unemployed people and their families, and all of the people who are becoming increasingly food insecure in this country. I'm frustrated that our Congress is so completely opposed to working together, for purely political reasons, that the idea that the Postal Service needs to get congressional approval to continue to function makes people laugh and say, "Well, USPS was cool while it lasted." I am angry that Obama's jobs bill is dismissed even before it is read because of the clip that held it together. I'm so serious it is not even funny. I'm tired of the needs of American people falling to the wayside while a wholly bipartisan political battle for seats in 2012 receives more attention. 

But, here is the thing I want to bring up. As tired, frustrated, and scared as I may sometimes feel ("Holy mother of God, all of the likely candidates for the GOP candidacy are anti-evolution?!"), I never forget that I do have power. No matter how small that power feels, I do have it. When I am upset and I have an opinion, I can use my voice. Of course the most direct way to show your opinions is through voting at elections, and if you do not vote as often as you can at every level of government available to you, I have much less respect for your political complaints. (Use your right to vote or you can shove it. Basically. Of course the slew of Voter ID laws greatly complicate that point of view.) 

But you can also make yourself visible by going to rallies to support the cause you're interested in. You can make small donations of time or money to non-profit groups that are working to have as much of a say in Congress as the lobbyists backed by huge corporate interests. You can inform yourself and blog about your views so that other people know that this is an issue. 

My absolute favorite part of civic involvement, however, is calling my representatives. You can email them, write them letters, or call them whenever you would like. If there is an issue, even one that isn't getting a lot of political coverage, that you care about you have the right to contact your representatives and let them know. 

I fully intend to call the capitol switchboard tomorrow and let both of my state senators and my representative to the House know that I am tired of the bickering and I want the president's jobs bill to pass. I also want them to support the Postal Service in a way that allows it to continue to run, even if that means more spending. When the anti-choice bills were in the house, I called every one of their offices multiple times to speak my mind.

So, the next time that you're feeling angry, or tired, or frustrated, I suggest giving the Capitol Switchboard a call. Even if you don't know your representatives' names, the operator can connect you to the right people. Take advantage of your right as their constituent to let them know what you want, and how you want them to represent you. It isn't just your right, it's your civic duty.

As they say, citizenship is NOT a spectator sport. Especially not today.