In a world where direct deposit is so common, you can understand that the average person isn’t paying much attention to how much money is being sent from your paycheck to the government. So, take the trouble and go download your last pay stub. Look at it, and figure out how much money was withheld. Now, multiply that by how many paychecks you get in a year, and write this number down.
That number is your financial stake in politics. It was your money, just like the rest that made it into your bank account. It’s always gone before we can spend it, and no one loses sleep over it. I’m going to try changing that. I want you losing sleep. I want you worrying about who’s spending your money, and what they’re spending it on.
That amount with your name on it isn’t much, but multiply it by 200 million. With this much money you can change things, right? Keep that hospital open? Fix those potholes? Clean up those streets? What would you spend an unimaginable sum of money on? What are your priorities? What would you do if you were in charge? Health care? Space program? Highways? Military?
No one, I’m sure, thinks that what’s happening now is perfect. When I asked for priorities, who said “culture war” and “pronouns” and “transgenders in girls sports”? Not many, I’ll bet. But, that’s what everybody is fighting over right now — and these became campaign issues. Is that how you want your money spent? Worrying about Prince Andrew or flags? Or, a better health care system? Or a foreign policy that isn’t a bottomless checkbook?
Now that you know what your stake is, spend some time learning who your representatives are. The United States is not a pure democracy. We don’t, and can’t, put every issue to a nationwide vote. We are a republic — a representative democracy. Every so often, you help decide who these people are, from the city council to county supervisors to all the way to the president. All have differing tasks, responsibilities and budgets. They all work for you, and your vote can keep them in office or turn them out. Who are these people? They’re working for you, and part of that number from your paycheck pays their salary. Are they doing what you would? Are they spending their budgets like you would? Or, are they on TV arguing over culture wars and pronouns while real issues are ignored?
No one said this process would be easy or fun. In fact, it’s hard, time-consuming and boring. Who looks at the budget of the county supervisors? You do, if you care about where your money is going locally, right in your own front yard. Also, you can see that a county supervisor doesn’t have control over quite as much money as a senator. No one says you must have an opinion on every issue — that’s part of what representation is all about. So, spend some time learning about your representatives, and see how they’re voting. If they’re not voting the way you would, then, at the next election, support a candidate who does.
The system works, despite its bad reputation. Candidates run, the elections are held, the people decide. It’s the best system available, and if you doubt this, then spend some time near our Southern border and see the trouble people are taking getting into our country. People don’t swim rivers and walk across deserts with infants in tow because they’re looking for a nicer apartment or a smooth road. They’re voting, too, but with their very lives. And, even at the end of the journey, they’re not a citizen, but their children who are born here will be. I can’t think of a more powerful way to understand how good we’ve got it than watching these people risk their lives to end up an illegal alien in Texas or Arizona or California. They know that they won’t be allowed the vote, or have social safety nets, or the like. Still, they die trying to get here. You don’t have a desert in your way, and you already have the vote. If you aren’t voting, then you have no more say than the illegals do.
- Christopher Reves is a retired pharmacist who lives in Greenwood.
