MAIN STREET NEEDS TO SAVE ITSELF
Unusual things took place last weekend in our nation’s capital. From a distance, you could have spied some strange hustle and bustle pulsing through the halls of Congress. Upon closer examination, you’d find them doing something out of the ordinary: working. After your shock and awe subsides, we suggest that the Gadfly-minded among you scrutinize the nature of their work and reasons proffered for their remaining in D.C.
One of the key items they took up and debated over Saturday and Sunday was the SAFE Act. Gadfly City has covered this proposed legislation and topic in general as it snakes its way through the House. The Senate took up and debated the matter through the weekend and to great huff and puff. After our esteemed senators have exhausted their opinions and their lungs, they will likely vote on the matter in the coming weeks.
Remember, the federal government cannot tread into and legislate over state elections. While the feds can set minimum standards for voting, the provenance to hold, review, and determine elections largely arises from states’ rights. Therefore, this development in Congress suggests an extraordinary shift in the historical balance of our federal system. While putting aside the hypocritical nature of Republicans and conservatives attempting to have Big Government review states’ elections when they have typically decried such a federal invasion of state sovereignty, let us review their offered justifications for this proposed legislation.
Though critics deride this Act as a “show your papers” mandate, advocates say that it merely seeks to prohibit and prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections. They continue that this would increase the nation’s confidence in general over our electoral process and democratic system more broadly. Plus, they conclude that this Act could reduce fraud and interference, especially foreign collusion.
Putting aside the glaring contradiction that Republicans want these background checks of a sort before Americans can vote but do not want them before Americans can buy guns, critics raise other concerns. Primarily, as mentioned above, this is an unwarranted federal intervention that undoes the traditional system of the voting system, including voter eligibility supervision. Further, they dismiss the alleged problem of voter fraud. In their view, it is simply a boogeyman used to consolidate power and manipulate elections.
What are Gadflies left to think? Whom should we fly towards or attack and sting if they get too close? Well, maybe they are both wrong. Let us examine the party in power first. This whole effort to pass the Safe Act seems more like an act of political theatre. Designed to shock their foes and pump up their friends, this stunt is surely not connected to any legitimate effort to accomplish anything. What a terrible waste of time. As prices soar (despite Trump’s denial), as more pork comes out of D.C. than Chicago, as our country gets thrown into another war, our government is fixated on the dramedy of the Safe Act. This is not leadership. Where are our national figures that will stand up and act for their country, instead of themselves?
As for the minority, where are their alternatives? Main Street America does not see them coming down our block with any serious options to combat the garble trickling out of the swamps over in the District. Where is their spine? Just like during the debate on gun control legislation, when they again had public opinion on their side, all they seem to offer is a weak and tepid response before they eventually (and predictably) bemoan their failure.
One party is delusionally denying the facts and the other is feebly fatalistic over them. We should not wonder why solutions to our problems do not come from our government. They are not trying to save anything but their own political futures. We should not protect leaders that do not (even attempt to) address our concerns. Gadflies, when was the last time you thought of voter fraud? Have you ever connected any problem in your life to voter fraud? Speak up. Yell. Politicians work for you. You might want to tell them what their job is and maybe soon.