Who's Being Represented?

For my first posting, I am choosing a political rambling. Not because I am always a political person or because I am particularly knowledgeable about the subject, but just because it's something that was on my mind yesterday. I am embarassed to say that yesterday evening (or was it the night before?), I was watching a reality show called "Secret Millionaire." As a disclaimer, I must say (and I am being honest) that watching the show was entirely the idea of my sister Katie, who sent me a frantic text message on the cab ride to my apartment requesting that I record the show, so she could see the end of it. (Katie - please don't kill me for disclosing this). Now, you may be asking yourself, what does this reality show have to do with politics?" Bear with me while I crawl to my point.

As an aside, I have to say that "Secret Millionaire" is the type of show that represents the problem with "reality television." Now, I'll save my full insight on the reality show craze for another posting. For now, let's just say that I find it hilarious that a show so obviously scripted is called a "reality" show (do they think the viewers are dumb?). The premise of this show is that a millionaire has to give up his or her life of servants and private jets for a whole week (or maybe just during the hours of filming) and go live like us "normal folks." The "secret millionaire" then just happens to bump into all these people who have amazing sob stories (like running a soup kitchen out of their house funded with pennies scraped from the couch cushions). After these people suddenly welcome the "secret millionaire," posing as a complete stranger, into their homes (like that would really happen), the millionaire has to give at least $100,000 away to people he or she met during the week. Demonstrating superb acting ability, the millionaire becomes all teary-eyed and gives the minimum amount required (not even an amount equivalent to the cost of one of his six private jets). OK - enough said. I will never watch this piece of garbage again.

Back to the point, the political tie-in is that one "secret millionaire" visited a town that had been hit by Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. MORE THAN 3 YEARS LATER - the town still looked like a war zone. Now, I have lived in so-called "third world countries" before, and this town looked worse than any town I had seen before. The houses were in shambles, the streets and schools had not been rebuilt, and people still lived in FEMA trailers. The condition of this town would have been expected if it were one week after the hurricane hit, but this was years later. I am appalled that our country has just "forgotten" to rebuild this area. With the news brimming with stories of billion dollar bailouts allowing people to stay in their homes despite the fact that they clearly were either too greedy or unable to perform basic math to determine that they could not afford a $4000/month mortgage when their take home pay was only $4500/month (I mean - we all have to at least eat, right?), I was disgusted that the U.S. had not spent a similar amount to rebuild devastated lives (now, I have a basic understanding of economics, so I do understand the recession-prevention concept, but I also feel that all human lives are valuable, and the U.S. should take care of the especially needy first). The people in this town are living way below the standards of living they had before the hurricane, a condition that is perpetuating due to loss of jobs. That is unacceptable to me (as well as scary - what's going to happen to San Francisco if "the big one" ever does hit?).

I was so angry by the failure of the Bush administration to rebuild the towns destroyed by Hurricane Katrina (while spending millions to destroy towns in Iraq) that I thought I would write President-elect Obama a letter urging him to fix the mess his predecessor left (I know, I know - there are so many messes that have been left that Obama has an insurmountable job ahead of him). But then I realized - wait a minute - I shouldn't write Obama - I should write my congressperson. This realization was based on my first time ever thinking (and I know this makes me sound ignorant) that the entire purpose of the "House of Representatives" is to "represent the people." The separation of powers and the branches of government were created for a reason, and the "House of Representatives" was intended to truly represent the people. I had forgotten that this is the case (as most of the country has) because it seems like congressmen/women only answer to big business, lobbying pressure, and groups that have money to fund campaigns. I've never heard of a congressperson introducing a bill because it was requested by John Doe of Pacifica, California. And I've never in 29 years even thought about writing my congressperson.

As I came to the realization that there is no true representation if "we the people" do not make our grievances known, I wondered what should I write about? I have so many grievances. Should I write that I am sad that the war in Iraq has made the world less safe for Americans than it was previously (duh!), and I want it ended immediately? Should I write that I believe our fundamental rights are eroded by measures like proposition 8, that allow a majority to take away the rights of a minority? I pondered this out loud to Katie, while also saying, "there's no way Congresswoman Pelosi is actually going to read my letter." "Write her once a day," Katie urges. I can't tell if she's joking or serious. "If you write once a day, eventually she'll answer your concerns to shut you up." Is this what has become of democracy? Is the only way to get your grievance heard to become either a multimillionaire or a raging lunatic who harasses those in power? No, I thought. That can't be true. I am one of the "represented," and I will make my grievances known. S0 I wrote Congresswoman Pelosi a long letter about my disappointment that the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina were never built. Then, I chickened out and never sent it.

I guess the point is that "we the people" (myself included) need to reclaim our right to be represented. The "House of Representatives" should not be the "House of Big Business" or "House of Campaign Dollars." It should be what it was originally intended to be - and that is obvious from the name. So next time you think, "what's wrong with this government?," don't just say it - write your congressperson. I'll be trying to get up the nerve to do the same:)

For anyone interested, here is my unsent letter:

Dear Honorable Congresswoman Pelosi:

I was thinking about democracy today as I watched a reality program that focused on a town hit by Hurricane Katrina way back in 2005. The town remained completely ramshackle more than 3 years after the Hurricane hit. I think it is appalling that entire towns are still living in dire poverty, way below their prior standard of living, so long down the line. This is the United States of America - the "Land of Plenty" - not a third world country. It is clear that the Bush administration did not meet its obligations to the citizens who were victims of Hurricane Katrina. As my representative, I am urging you to take action under the new Obama administration to fix the problem that Bush ignored. I have never written before, but have come to realize that a "House of Representatives" is ineffective under the separation of powers if the people that are to be represented do not individually communicate with their comgressman (or woman).

There should be a "return to work" program instituted in the Hurrican Katrina area immediately, so that the many people whose jobs were lost when the hurricane swept away businesses that never returned to the area can get jobs. The program can be similar to the depression-era programs instituted by FDR. Get people jobs, and they will be able to rebuild. I should know, my grandmother's generation struggled under New Deal programs, and a few decades later I am a successful attorney living in San Francisco.

In addition, money to rebuild should be funneled in - the amount of the recent mortgage bailout should do (or perhaps a fraction of the money spent in Iraq).

The Katrina disaster is a blight in our country's governance that should be corrected under the Obama administration. I appreciate your attention to this issue.

Very truly yours,
Kim