Diatribe? Anyone?

I recently heard this statement:

"We cannot control what the government will do."

My response is simple: we do control the government. They are our representatives, OUR government--not the other way around. The people are the only check on the "government." Remember, we elect those people, they do respond to our concerns if we make them. All you have to do is read the recent Dubai-Port story for proof. The fact is, when enough people stand up, they listen. Therefore, it is vital that people participate in the process, attend town/city council meetings, write letters to your representatives on the local and national levels. Attend notice and comment meetings, and get your name on the record by standing up and saying what is on your mind. They are informal and rarely intimidating. In fact, it makes you feel like you are on some TV show like the Gilmore Girls or Northern Exposure in which town meetings occur regularly. The process is designed for public participation and it only works correctly when people do so.

For a quick read of the particularly bad state of affairs in Washington, read this. It would be funny if it was not so terrifying.

As soon as you believe you do not have any control over the government, you don't. I will be the first to admit that it is easy not to participate but that is hardly the point.