By Tyler Scott
I wish I had this kind of job security.
A recent CBS News New York Times poll found that only eight percent of Americans want the current members of Congress to be reelected. Congress’ job approval rating was an astounding 15 percent. Yet when November rolls around, history shows that we can expect close to 90 percent of Congress members to be reelected for another term. Americans complain about the broken democratic system, blaming bipartisan politics for the failures of Congress. But Americans’ refusal to bring wholesale change to the Congressional makeup places the onus upon voters. Voters must take responsibility for the decisions of their representatives. Why do we continue to reelect people to represent us when we overwhelmingly disapprove of the job they are doing?
During the summer of 2008, a Gallup poll found that Congress’ approval rating was a mere 14 percent. When the votes were tallied several months later, 94 percent of House incumbents still held office, as did 83 percent of senators. Percentages are useful to inform the nation about what its citizens think, but the only percentages that really matter are the ones next to the names in November. I propose that in the upcoming election, voters follow through on their convictions. Stop voting for incumbents just because their names are familiar.
Education is the key to change. Members of Congress have little reason to respect the desires of their constituents because they know reelection is likely. As long as voters fail to follow through on their complaints about Congress, we will never see positive change in Washington, D.C.
If only 15 percent of Americans are happy with Congress, we should see that disapproval carried out in the actual elections. Congressional terms are intentionally short so that the public has the opportunity to ensure that the right people are in place to lead the country.
We have failed as an electorate, and it is time that we step up and accept our part in the struggles of Congress. For too many years, we have stood by and reelected incumbents who clearly are not carrying out the agendas of their constituents. Voting is a right, and with that right is a responsibility to actively participate in the process. We cannot continually complain about Congress as a whole and then repeatedly retain its membership and expect things to change.
If you are part of the 15 percent that approves of Congress and the decisions it is making for our country, then absolutely vote for the incumbents in the upcoming election.
When you fill out your ballot in November, consider for yourself whether or not Congress is accomplishing all that it should. Consider whether you would still have your job if three-quarters of the people you work for disapproved of your job performance.
Then vote accordingly. Demanding change while voting the same will fail every time.
Think of the election process as your congressperson’s job performance review. If the worker is not fulfilling the job expectations, hand the reigns to someone else.
No one should have that kind of job security.
Edited by Anne Walters-Cooke






