So who the hell is representing ME?

[LisaM]

Here is what I don't want my tax dollars going for:

War
Any public funding of religion
Charter schools
Companies who organize/hire off shore
Companies who discourage unions
Privatized prisons/military contractors
Discriminatory marriage laws


Here is what I do want my tax dollars paying for:

Subsidized higher education
Subsidized healthcare
Public funding of abortions
Public funding of elections
More parks
Higher teacher pay
Incentives for local businesses
Laws to regulate monopolies

Etc.

I'm really tired of taxation without representation. Most of the changes I care about aren't even on the table.

[abluelady]

1. If You Lived in Vermont

it would be Bernie Sanders. I know my two Dems in VA don't represent me.

[LisaM]

2. Ah, yes, Bernie

Actually, my own Congressional rep (Jim McDermott) is pretty good, but he has very little clout.

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. Could be worse

You could be stuck with Brian Baird. :evilfrown:

[cali]

17. I live in VT and I feel that not only does Bernie

represent me well but so too do Pat Leahy, Peter Welch and my state reps. Can't say they same about my crappy governor.

[kenny blankenship]

3. Well you're coming at this from the wrong angle.

Get yourself a net worth of about 5 million dollars - THEN you'll be represented.

You got to meet these people halfway. Do you work for nothing? Neither do they.

[treestar]

5. No one

Your congressman represents your district, including you and everyone else who lives in the district.

Your senators represent your state, you and every single other resident of the stay.

The President runs the executive branch for the entire nation.

Your governor runs the executive branch of the state.

Your state legislator represent the districts you live in as drawn up by that state.

None of these people represent only you.

[LisaM]

7. Well, duh.

I don't mean only me. But I think many DUers share the values I list, and no one seems to give squat about them.

[treestar]

9. That's an awfully broad statement

Many DUers is not a group that can elect anyone or expect representation either. I think it impossible for you to point to any legislator who is a Democrat who doesn't share the same opinion on at least a couple of issues.

[LisaM]

13. I don't really expect any legislator to be a pacificist. I've pretty much given up on that.

But I have been pretty shocked lately at the full frontal assualt on abortion rights and public schools.

[RagAss]

6. Uhhhh...You.

[Jamastiene]

8. K&R

Well said.

[BeHereNow]

10. Hmm, your list sounds dangerously librul, you commie-pinko socialist...

Whaddya want anyway?
The needs of PEOPLE to be addressed over multi national corporations?
Well, corporations are PEOPLE too!
You expect billionaires to give up their yachts and mansions so that some kids can EAT?

You should move to one of those commie countries that provide
healthcare and education. You know the ones that grant paid maternity
leave, vacation and sick leave and public assistance to people who need it.
:sarcasm:

BHN

[LastNaturalist]

11. The correct answer is, it depends on your Congressional district.

I have the Great White Hope for the GOP, Aaron Shock, whom I agree with on nothing.

[sponge_bob_128]

12. Geographic representation is idiotic.

Bleep geographical representation.  Oh yeah, they didn't want
to have expand the capital building so our bleeping
geographical representatives now "represent" order
of magnitude more people than originally envisioned. 
Something like 646,952 people per corrupt imbecile politician
and rising.  Oh yeah, but the House of Representatives is
pretty much useless anyway, because of the *#$#*$# Senate with
its Filibuster and massive undemocratic representation ratios.

[MineralMan]

14. Only you can represent yourself.

Elected officials represent, more or less, the majority of those who come out to vote. If they want to hold their office, they have to do that reasonably well.

So, nobody represents you but yourself. And you can represent yourself just fine by making your positions known to whomever was elected in your jurisdiction.

We're a nation of some 300 million people. Few agree on all issues with any of the others. If you want a nation that does just what you want it to do, the only way is to become the monarch of one. Then, you can dictate actions according to your beliefs.

Let me know how that works out for you.

[Hannah Bell]

16. why bother?

[MineralMan]

19. Because if you don't, you're completely voiceless.

Does it work? Sometimes it does, if enough people are doing it. In 1964, I marched in Selma. It didn't do anything then, but the collective effort finally did something. I protested the Vietnam war while still in the USAF, standing in front of the Pentagon, in uniform, holding a sign. It didn't do anything immediately, but the war ended, thanks to the collective effort of many who represented themselves.

Why bother? Because how could you not bother? Even posting here on DU is exercising your voice in representing yourself, although that has less effect than direct communication and activism.

Why bother? Because not bothering means you have given in to things you consider wrong.

Why bother? Because your voice might just be the one that tips the scale.

You may do as you choose. I choose to bother. I bother a lot.

[Hannah Bell]

23. i meant your exercise in apologetics.

representatives do, indeed, represent individuals as well as "majorities".

[MineralMan]

25. They do, from time to time. It's not the norm, though.

[walldude]

15. We need a lobbyist...

Too bad they already stole all our money, if they hadn't we might be able to afford to buy them off.

[Nikki Stone1]

18. I like that idea.

A people's lobbyist.

[MineralMan]

20. Each of us should be a people's lobbyist.

It's our only hope for real change.

[Nikki Stone1]

26. Nice fantasy, highly ineffective and improbable

Lobbyists are a highly specialized breed. Normal folks don't have a chance against their expertise and the money that backs them.

[MineralMan]

27. Well, then, I guess I'll just give up. It's hopeless. There's nothing

I can do. We're all doomed.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

21. Michael Michaud and Chellie Pingree (Reps), Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins (Senators)

:silly:

[spanone]

22. welcome to reality

[alfredo]

24. Public funding of elections. Turn off the corporate money machine.