And that’s where we citizens must, especially during this time of silence and black-outs, cue our Congresspeople and their Aides in to the facts underscoring the necessity for reform. Because, as unbelievable as it may seem, they truly may not know. And that’s just plain the truth, as lame as that may be.
I agree with anybody who asserts that it’s lame and irresponsible, FYI. I am not defending the Congressional lack of awareness concerning contents of laws, statistics arising from those laws, et al. However, reality is that they must meet in Congress, they must travel, meet with constituents, etc and so in the practical world, it’s probably not possible to study the text of bills. Which is wrong indeed and even dangerous, yes. It upsets me and hits me as very wrong, too, believe me! Yes I have publicly upbraided Congress for not studying the text of bills, themselves. Clearly the system needs to be revised to allow for this all-important time to study the texts of proposed laws. No kidding!
So….for those of you who have believed that to write to Congress won’t do any good, please be advised. What I gathered from calling this Aide is that to cue Congress in to the facts is more critical now than it ever has been before in US history.
Surely some Congress members won’t care. Surely there are many corrupt ones and even worse in office. I agree.
But, surely there also are those who do care and will listen. Surely many of them are voting based on misinformation from their Legislative Aides and are going on blind faith. And that could account for their votes for unconstitutional bills which rightfully seem to us to be betrayals. That could explain why they seem to have a deaf ear, brushing us off as “hysterical” and “paranoid” “nutcases” or whatever they think. Facts, reported en masse by constituents, will be key to releasing us from the mess we are in, or the chains which bond us and now threaten to strangle our very own throats.
I suggest it would be an interesting experiment for us here on Opednews to ask to talk directly with Legislative Aides, as a mass project, reporting back what they have to say. The inconsistencies in the statements of these key Aides with the realities of the so-called “laws” passed in post-911 USA, or any inconsistencies with statistics and other facts, would be very interesting to log into an Opednews database and to track, reporting the gaps and misrepresentations to a combined article. Or, to even a series of ongoing articles, as a theme.
Because once we know the general pattern and misbehavior of these Legislative Aides, we can alert other citizens on other blogs and ask them to fill the gap. That is, to call Representatives and Senators to cue Aides in to the facts, asking for legislation to restore America as The Land of the Free, once more.
The awareness of the lying Legislative Aides might discourage some Americans, but if it is stressed that we can make a difference by reporting in a fact-based way to Congress and their Aides, many people may take heart and rethink their assumption that “it won’t make a bit of difference anyway”. Because the more aware Congress is, including about the misrepresented facts by their own Legislative Aides, especially if this is publicized all over the Web, the more they are in a position to make informed decisions as they legislate. It’s just that simple.
To publicize the lying of the Legislative Aides will also put pressure on Congress to read the texts of proposed bills themselves, rather than to rely on someone else’s report (and convenient, agenda-based interpretation of the facts). If they don’t have time, they will be publicly embarrassed into creating time. Period. Let’s get to work with our pens!
To underscore the point, below are some links proving (to Congress and the Aides) that the Administration is withholding the truth from Congress, the Press and the American people:
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/36225prs20080731.html
ACLU Testifies Today Asking Congress To Narrow Scope Of State Secrets Privilege (7/31/2008)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.orgWASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union testified today about the improper use of the state secrets privilege at a hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. The hearing was held to discuss legislation introduced by the subcommittee’s chairman, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), entitled the “State Secrets Protection Act of 2008” (H.R.5607). The bill would narrow the scope of the privilege by setting appropriate limits on its use.
“The Bush administration has consistently used the state secrets privilege as an alternative form of legal immunity,” said Steven R. Shapiro, ACLU Legal Director who testified today.
The state secrets privilege has historically been used to exclude discrete pieces of evidence from trials, but in recent years the Bush administration has asserted the claim with increasing regularity in order to block entire lawsuits and justify withholding information from the public about extraordinary rendition, illegal wiretapping, torture and other breaches of U.S. and international law..." (Much more on the link above).
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