The Cheese Stands Alone: One Bill, One Issue

Hello friends,

It has been a bit of a crazy year.  I spent a little time sick, and I spent the past few months planning a wedding.  This past weekend, I married a wonderful man and became a step-mother to a very special twelve-year-old boy.  Now it's time to settle back into life, and for me, that means having time to read the news once in a while...

Today, I came across several articles related to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", a very unpopular law passed in 1993 that was a compromise between openly gay military service and a ban on gay military service.  The short and skinny of it is that most Americans support the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", and by most, I don't mean 51%.  Every estimate puts the number between 70% and 90%.

So what's the problem?  The repeal bill failed in the Senate this week because our "leaders" didn't vote on the repeal of DADT; they voted on the politics.  If you think they ever vote on anything but the politics these days, you're kidding yourself.  They won't vote on the issues at hand until that's the only thing before them.  Some Senators struck down the bill because of the DREAM rider; some voted against it because they didn't like the way the riders and filibustering were handled by the other Senators.

This issue and how it was handled brings a murky problem into specific relief: how do we focus our Congress on the important issues instead of the politics?  We make every bill stand on its own.

What's this you say?  Make the bills stand on their own?  But then how will Alaska get funding for a bridge that creates jobs (but leads nowhere)?  How will the Teapot Museum get tax payer support?

Exactly.  This is the solution to several problems at once.  If it's worth spending our time and taxes on, then it can stand on its own on the page.  No more riders.  No more back room deals.  No more 8000+ page documents that can't be read before the vote.  If it deserves consideration, it can be discussed openly (barring, of course, top secret defense items that I wouldn't want in the hands of the enemy).

This is one of those basic things that the American public should ask their Senators and Representatives to pass.  We're asking for term limits.  We're asking for a return to Constitutional government.  We're asking for transparency and accountability.  Ask for integrity.  Ask for simplicity.  Add "One Issue, One Bill" to your rally cries, and sally forth into the fray!

Or just tell your representatives.  Not sure who they are?  Go here to get your Zip Code+4.  Then go here to find your elected officials.

Remember: they're there to represent us.  There is no reason that a bill this popular, which would strengthen our military forces and society, should be struck down for political volleying.  Speak up.  One Issue, One Bill.

Until the next rant, I bid you adieu,

-MK