You get what you vote for
Yesterday's blog may seem at odds with the one from the day before. A little clarification may help.
I believe that the public is ultimately responsible for the behavior of its Congresspeople. Such is the curse of a democratic republic; we get the government we elect.
Bad behavior by congressional representatives is nothing new. Nor will it go away. However, it is silly for national indignation to be heaped on the leadership of the House or the Republican Party for this Foley situation. It should be directed at the people of Palm Beach who returned this man to Washington term after term after term. They did the country a disservice in not investigating the character of this pathetic lecher. It warns that we should all be more conscientious about the votes we cast and the representation we choose.
I think Foley should have told the whole country to take a flying fuck at a rolling doughnut. I think he should have stood for re-election. I likewise think the people of Palm Beach should have been given the opportunity to publicly shame him with a resounding trouncing at the polls. Instead he was able to resign, to fade into rehab and history, and to allow the Republicans in South Florida to field an alternate candidate.
We should hold our representatives to higher standards. They reflect our society. They should show off our nobler selves rather than our baser urges. And while they have a responsibility to look after the dignity of our public offices, we have a responsibility to look after them. When they fail to uphold the public trust, we must withdraw it.
But for the entire 2006 election to turn on this one issue, is sad. It's also indicative of the people's abdication of their duty to the republic--namely to be informed and ever vigilant of their government.
