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Graduation season lends to reflection. What decisions would we have made as an 18 year old if we had known what we know now? How would knowledge have changed the course of our lives? It’s an interesting premise to contemplate.
It’s interesting to make a leap into politics. I had a great high school government teacher who taught Constitution, Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendment basics, law-making processes and responsibilities of the president, House of Representatives and Senate. Instruction was theory and practical interpretation and vocabulary associated with the act of governing at both the national and state level.
Much about understanding politics comes from the school of hard knocks. We learn the lessons as we go.
My real-world political understanding was born as the USA descended into the era of Watergate and what followed. It was intriguing, important and scary. Politics wasn’t always in the best interest of “the people” but could bend to the will of the powerful.
I needed to learn all I could as a witness of Watergate and experienced it playing out. Before Watergate, I put politicians on a pedestal thinking their focus was on constituents living in their districts. Allegiance to a specific political party was less important than the good of the country and its people.
Theory is one thing but not always experienced in real life. Part of the equation gets overlooked. We the People have a responsibility to be educated about issues, ask questions, understand processes, and expect elected leaders to represent our country’s interests and not a specific party affiliation. We the People should not give away the power we have as “voices of the people.”
The relationship between elected leaders and constituents is like any relationship. Relationships require work and a willingness to commit to one another. Neither group can ignore the other and expect the relationship to be healthy. Communication is a two-way street. It means showing up even when times are difficult.
A dual responsibility exists between elected leaders and those who cast ballots. The relationship is healthy only if communication and commitment equally exist.
Informed constituents have responsibilities to the relationship. The responsibilities aren’t difficult but they take time and energy.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Know your representative’s names at the city, county, state and national level. Met them in person if you can.
2. Know how to contact them and their preferred means of communication. Is it email, letters, phone calls, in-person visits or any option.
3. Do your homework. Know what was passed or being considered. Develop clear rationales for their support of your position.
4. Make communications brief. Elected officials receive hundreds and maybe thousands of constituent contacts. Think in terms of important points, one page, and not term paper length.
5. Include name, address, email and phone number to ensure constituent status. Put “From a constituent” in the subject line of an email.
6. Be polite and specific with communication. Tell your story. Authentic experiences are valuable. How did you come to the opinion or position on the issue and why?
7. Expect them to disagree with you. Hang in there! Be grateful if you’re on the same page.
8. Continue to make contact. Trust me, they will recognize your name if you make frequent contact.
9. It’s a process. Constituents have a Constitutional right to contact elected leaders to voice their opinions and concerns.
10. Legislators have a Constitutional responsibility to represent ALL constituents and constituencies within the area represented.
Relationships are messy. Relationships take time and energy to develop. It’s not easy.
In the words of the great philosopher, Jimmy Buffett, “Relationships. We all want ‘em. We all got ‘em. What are we gonna to do with ‘em?”
Healthy relationships matter. Lessons learned.