By Tami Rasel
My husband and I live in a small rancher that sits well off the beaten path. Very few people even realize there is a home that sits so far back from the main road. But as a couple we enjoy the privacy of being hidden away from the world back in the woods. We have never had one trick-or-treater knock on our door; we don't ever see Jehovah's Witnesses, door-to-door salesmen, or ambitious politicians on our doorstep. Recently, however, that all changed. One beautiful autumn day down our dusty road came a nervous looking middle-aged man. He shook our hands, introduced himself and began to tell us of his goal to be a member of the House of Representatives. Then he asked if he could count on our vote to get him there. We were both shocked to see him, and even inquired as to how he had found our hideaway. It occurred to my husband and I that this man was desperate to speak with We the People to share his policies and make everyone in our area aware of what he was going to do for us if elected.
Last night as I watched the presidential debate, which was held as a town hall meeting--a term that simply means the politicians speak directly to the audience and not into the cameras--I noticed how each candidate listened intently to the questions asked, even walking up to the individual they were addressing and speaking directly to them. The next day as I saw those same candidates campaigning in different states, they were shaking hands with We the People, promising better times ahead to We the People and speaking within ear shot of We the People. Often as these politicians give their campaign speeches they mention the simple folk they have met along the way. They always tell the hard luck stories that were shared by those folks they met and express their empathy for that individual or family--always assuring the listeners that if they are elected, things will change. Over this past campaign season we have witnessed (via the media) these same politicians speaking in small-town diners with the local residents, going door to door and speaking with the community, offering rides--at their own expense--to the voting booth for those who have no transportation, and even chugging down a drink with the average "Joe-six-pack." During the campaign phase they are truly of the people, by the people and for the people. On Election Day, however, that all changes.
Suddenly that same candidate, who was anxious to shake our hands, kiss our babies and hear about our struggles, is now shut up behind tinted limo windows, guarded doors and a team of agents whose guns strapped at their side scream to the voters, "stay away!" Only a few privileged elite are now allowed to speak directly to the candidate we took the time to elect. This candidate now has "employees" who answer the phone and laugh at the attempt to speak with the President of The United States. They now have "employees" who might take the time to read the many letters and emails expressing an issue, need, or concern, they now have "employees" to deal with, or in most cases, not deal with We the People. Politicians who were so anxious to travel all over this country and spend almost each and every day of their lives campaigning and meeting the locals, hearing their desires for this nation and promising all of us better tomorrows are no longer available.
Many would quickly state this to be an impossible task, the president doesn't have time to listen or address, general public, they have more important task at hand. Many would state that the resident can't answer phones, read emails or answer concerns of, the average American; they are much too busy to hear the little man. Many would even argue that it is too dangerous for the President of the United States of America to mingle with the average middle-class, or, heaven forbid, those living in poverty--they are too busy meeting with celebrities, sports figures, Heads of State, Congress and the occasional rock star--no time for We the People.
History teaches us of presidents like Andrew Jackson (The People's President) who actually invited the entire nation to his home for a party. (Today we would need a bigger lawn.) Many presidents from the past answered the phone at the White House and listened to the concerns of the speaker on the other end. Some of those historical presidents even answered their own mail, actually hand writing their response. However, even with all our technology and speed today, that would be an impossible expectation for the President of the United States. After all, it is not the president's job to deal with the concerns, problems, hardships of the very public who elected them.
Four years later, however, when it is time for re-election, that same president, who did not have any time for the folks who put them in office; that same president who had to be locked up and guarded against the American people for their own safety, is once again out in public shaking hands, kissing babies, knocking on doors, walking down dusty lanes, and chugging another drink with the average "Joe-six-pack." That same president, who was unavailable to all who had voted for them in the past election, is once again available, concerned, and very anxious to deal with issues and make new promises to, We the People.
My husband and I live in a small rancher that sits well off the beaten path. Very few people even realize there is a home that sits so far back from the main road. But as a couple we enjoy the privacy of being hidden away from the world back in the woods. We have never had one trick-or-treater knock on our door; we don't ever see Jehovah's Witnesses, door-to-door salesmen, or ambitious politicians on our doorstep. Recently, however, that all changed. One beautiful autumn day down our dusty road came a nervous looking middle-aged man. He shook our hands, introduced himself and began to tell us of his goal to be a member of the House of Representatives. Then he asked if he could count on our vote to get him there. We were both shocked to see him, and even inquired as to how he had found our hideaway. It occurred to my husband and I that this man was desperate to speak with We the People to share his policies and make everyone in our area aware of what he was going to do for us if elected.
Last night as I watched the presidential debate, which was held as a town hall meeting--a term that simply means the politicians speak directly to the audience and not into the cameras--I noticed how each candidate listened intently to the questions asked, even walking up to the individual they were addressing and speaking directly to them. The next day as I saw those same candidates campaigning in different states, they were shaking hands with We the People, promising better times ahead to We the People and speaking within ear shot of We the People. Often as these politicians give their campaign speeches they mention the simple folk they have met along the way. They always tell the hard luck stories that were shared by those folks they met and express their empathy for that individual or family--always assuring the listeners that if they are elected, things will change. Over this past campaign season we have witnessed (via the media) these same politicians speaking in small-town diners with the local residents, going door to door and speaking with the community, offering rides--at their own expense--to the voting booth for those who have no transportation, and even chugging down a drink with the average "Joe-six-pack." During the campaign phase they are truly of the people, by the people and for the people. On Election Day, however, that all changes.
Suddenly that same candidate, who was anxious to shake our hands, kiss our babies and hear about our struggles, is now shut up behind tinted limo windows, guarded doors and a team of agents whose guns strapped at their side scream to the voters, "stay away!" Only a few privileged elite are now allowed to speak directly to the candidate we took the time to elect. This candidate now has "employees" who answer the phone and laugh at the attempt to speak with the President of The United States. They now have "employees" who might take the time to read the many letters and emails expressing an issue, need, or concern, they now have "employees" to deal with, or in most cases, not deal with We the People. Politicians who were so anxious to travel all over this country and spend almost each and every day of their lives campaigning and meeting the locals, hearing their desires for this nation and promising all of us better tomorrows are no longer available.
Many would quickly state this to be an impossible task, the president doesn't have time to listen or address, general public, they have more important task at hand. Many would state that the resident can't answer phones, read emails or answer concerns of, the average American; they are much too busy to hear the little man. Many would even argue that it is too dangerous for the President of the United States of America to mingle with the average middle-class, or, heaven forbid, those living in poverty--they are too busy meeting with celebrities, sports figures, Heads of State, Congress and the occasional rock star--no time for We the People.
History teaches us of presidents like Andrew Jackson (The People's President) who actually invited the entire nation to his home for a party. (Today we would need a bigger lawn.) Many presidents from the past answered the phone at the White House and listened to the concerns of the speaker on the other end. Some of those historical presidents even answered their own mail, actually hand writing their response. However, even with all our technology and speed today, that would be an impossible expectation for the President of the United States. After all, it is not the president's job to deal with the concerns, problems, hardships of the very public who elected them.
Four years later, however, when it is time for re-election, that same president, who did not have any time for the folks who put them in office; that same president who had to be locked up and guarded against the American people for their own safety, is once again out in public shaking hands, kissing babies, knocking on doors, walking down dusty lanes, and chugging another drink with the average "Joe-six-pack." That same president, who was unavailable to all who had voted for them in the past election, is once again available, concerned, and very anxious to deal with issues and make new promises to, We the People.
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