State Legislatures Represent True Political Voice, Impact
Conservatives are hardly noticed on the national level, being impotent and marginalized in states like New York, California, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Even in states like South Dakota, Republican representatives to Congress like John Thune and Kristi Noem quietly casts their few votes in support of party allegiance. No problem, because this is what we all expect–though we can hope for a lot more.
But if our Congressional votes automatically concur with the national GOP positions, do we need representatives at all? Why not let the states just cast party-line votes and save the expenses of sending representatives off to distant Washington, DC? When the GOP itself is split, why not just let those in state legislature debate and decide? It might be good for them.
Congressional seats have become so lucrative financially that those in the Senate and House keep the lowest possible profile, never speaking out unless it’s safe to do so. Does anybody remember the last time Thune or Noem got into the national limelight for anything?
You would think that with the liberal hegemony firmly in place across political and social America, then conservatives would be more vocal than ever to level the playing field. After all, members of Congress have the ear of the nation and foreign countries too. Firebrands and militants will be heard, especially in opposition to the prevailing “progressive” norm.
Alas, it appears that only state legislatures have the flexibility to give voice to positions that might fail nationally, but which are at least articulated as worthy of being put on the legislative table. Sean Murphy’s recent Associated Press article “States’ rights bills surge in GOP states” reveals that state legislatures offer the only hope for beleaguered conservatives: “In Oklahoma and other GOP states, lawmakers form special panels to fight federal power.”
Don’t we find in state legislatures what representative democracy used to be long ago, as local politicians assemble within the state to interpret the will of the people? If Thune and Noem don’t use their offices to speak out on unpopular conservative issues, then the importance of their party-line votes and occasional photo-ops seem to have a lot less value.
Thanks, Ed. You’ve laid these truthful ideas out with exceptional clarity. I sometimes play the naive observer to remind people of the disparity between the way things are–and the way this should be, as revealed in early America.
Sadly, the state legislatures have been infected by the same malevolent forces that attack truly conservative legislators in DC. I am convinced that both Senator Thune (R-SD) and Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-SD) are both more conservative than their voting records. Upon arrival in DC (or in Pierre, SD), legislators are beseiged with their more senior colleagues and party leadership who immediately preach the mantra that they are the only ones who know the key to legislative success, and that is attained by following along their path to more of the same. The power brokers wield their huge purses and take advantage of their nearby K Street digs to bombard the legislators with their version of success for them, which they define as doing things their way and ensuring re-election for the fly ensnared in the web.
Both Senator Thune and Congresswoman Noem truly want to change this DC-way of doing business but truly encounter a daunting task everyday. My prayers are with both everyday.
Some may allege that we have sent the wrong people to DC from South Dakota but that is an empty allegation as those same “some” never offer a better alternative. Too many conservatives sit still and complain but truly produce nothing but foul air. The power can be restored by the people, and only the people, to support our good legislators. When a “bad” vote is cast, confront them but when a “good” vote is cast, praise them and keep in mind that they are daily “in the trenches” for us in DC. Seek good conservative candidates for office and support them. If you have it figured out, run for office yourself. If you want them to stand firm for you, then stand firm for them.
The change required to right this ship of state will not come from the captain, it must come from the crew…..me and you.