Here’s something to keep your eye on.
There’s been a flurry of new web activity this year as representatives at the state and federal levels have rolled out attractive, fancy websites that allow you (yes, YOU) to submit and vote on changes that you’d like to see made to government.
Isn’t that sweet.
(note: sarcasm)
Let’s see…the first one I bumped into was www.AmericaSpeakingOut.com. The disclaimer on this site is pretty spectacular:
This site was developed as part of an official effort to increase the dialogue between Americans and their Congress. Here, Americans are provided a new platform to share their priorities and ideas for a national policy agenda. As House Republicans, we are committed to our principles of limited, more accountable government; economic freedom; lower taxes; fiscal responsibility; protecting life, American values, and the Constitution; and providing for strong national security. This is an open forum, however, where all Americans are welcome to respectfully offer their opinions, regardless of party affiliation and whether we endorse them or not. It is our hope the active engagement of the American people will produce a robust debate that will aid in the construction of a new American agenda. This website is paid for with official funds of the Office of the House Minority Leader – no political or campaign funds have been used for any portion of the America Speaking Out project.
Where…to…start…
- An “effort to increase the dialogue”…okay. Sounds good, although I feel like it might be too little too late. But let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.
- Apparently, House Republicans support the principles of limited government and the Constitution, among other things. That sort of surprises me, because that’s not the Republican party that I’m familiar with. Whatever happened to the Patriot Act, or unjustified wars overseas, or all those other Bush-era policies that had no basis whatsoever in principles of limited government or the Constitution?
- What sort of “new American agenda” are House Republicans looking for? That sounds devious to me. What happened to our “old American agenda”, a.k.a. preserving the right of the individual to enjoy and defend life, liberty and property?
- And lasty, the brilliant disclaimer that no political or campaign funds have been used for any portion of the project. Well, okay, so…where did the money come from? Isn’t the Office of the House Minority Leader funded with public monies? Maybe I’m wrong. It’s just suspect.
So yeah, visit this website and earn some badges. Yup, badges.
Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!
The second website that I ran into this year was set up by several Democratic state representatives here in Pennsylvania. Jesse White, Matt Smith, Josh Shapiro, Steve Santarsiero and Eugene DePasquale ponied up to create www.YourPABudget.com, which is another means for people to submit and vote on ideas related to the oft-past-deadline Pennsylvania government budget. So far there have been 1,349 ideas submitted. Unfortunately, there are only buttons for “Agree” and “Disagree” and there is no way to see how many people have agreed or disagreed with each idea. Perhaps that’s so we can’t see which ones were really popular, and these devious representatives can say that they got their budget ideas “from the people” or something like that.
Smells like those nefarious representatives are up to no good…
Please don’t submit budget ideas while driving.
Anyway, I bumped into a THIRD website today. Apparently America Speaking Out didn’t work so well, so Republican Eric Cantor has introduced You Cut, which is described as follows:
YouCut – a first-of-its-kind project – is designed to defeat the permissive culture of runaway spending in Congress. It allows you to vote, both online and on your cell phone, on spending cuts that you want to see the House enact. Vote on this page today for your priorities and together we can begin to change Washington’s culture of spending into a culture of savings.
Hrmmmm…let’s see here. If it’s the third website I’ve found this year, then it can’t possibly be the first of its kind. And it offers literally nothing new.
Oh…wait a second. I think I figured it out. Eric Cantor is running for reelection…and he has an opponent…
Three websites. Three flimsy and transparent attempts by representatives from both parties to make it appear as though they give one damn about what you and I think. But what the heck, I submitted my ideas anyway. Maybe somebody…anybody…will listen?
Bueller?
Bueller?
Bueller?
