Dear Congress

To Whom It May Concern:

Dear Congressman,

What happened to the traditional values that shaped, what once was a great country? When did the world of politics become so one-sided and bias? What does the behavior and action of congress say about the future? And what is in store for the next generation, who will have to lead by example? My name is Brittany James and I’m a twenty-two year old Political Science student and also a concerned on-looker of the bitterness, dividedness, and hatred we call American Politics. I am very disappointed and I know this is not the ideas of a democracy the founding fathers had. The main specific issue I am speaking of is the three-hundred-and-sixty- five-days of bickering back and forth between both democrats and republican. Does congress ever get anything accomplished? It would be understandable, if each party respected each other’s’ views, not agree, but respect. Instead of pointing the finger and using one another parties as scapegoats, point at yourselves. All of you. Who in Washington has not an agenda? I have almost given up on what used to be a very fine system. And when I was younger, I was very proud to be an American. I would like to be a politician one day but not if this is what it has come. I seriously believe that education, the economy, and American values are the problems that need our immediate attention. Our educational institutions needs repair without question. How will teachers inspire students to have a hunger for knowledge, when the right resources to reach their children are not made available? How can teachers improve their successes of teaching a child if they are constantly faced with the disposition of practically raising a child? Schools use to actually be a safe haven for abused and at risk children now, we cannot even send children to school without the thought of them being in danger. And for the most part, parental control and accountability has everything to do with how a child/adult associates in a society. It should not be a teachers job to teach and parent the children in their classrooms. Why are teachers penalized for a educational system they had no part in destroying? For example, some teachers are fired if a large amount of students do not pass standardized testing. Furthermore, how are these test fair when children learn in more than one way? My biggest concern is definitely about the next generation and their ability to handle this country. “They say there isn’t no hope for the youth and the truth is there isn’t no hope for the future.” Explained the late poet Tupac Shakur. The children are America’s future and it all ties into restructuring institutions. Children are like institutions and what we put into them is what we eventually get out. If we put half of our effort as Americans into fighting for better education, better jobs, and reshape the American values we were once true to, we could be the best nation. The economy is not a good excuse for everything. If this nation truly wanted to succeed we could. We had the ability to surpass the economical strife’s of the 1930’s under the terms of FDR. Why are their jobs being transferred across seas? Why hasn’t America produced anything other than cars in last century? Why isn’t there a better program for teachers, doctors, and police officers when they graduate from schools? They are the people we need to guarantee the success of our economy. How come students in those fields are not encouraged and recruited to join the career field with the promise of at least half tuition paid automatically and a guaranteed job?  Does it really take for two people on the city transportation to think of things like this versus the average congress member who is paid about $174,000 per year? This is ridiculous. Do not abuse your power and leadership by not doing what you know is right. It is like you all are saying we can get paid to not work and promote our personal view of the world. It really all center on American values. Finally, the root of the problems lies in the American system itself. It is old and it is definitely time to start reworking problems from the root. My example of congress fixing an issue or just the government trying to fix anything in general, is the analogy of trying to stick meat to dry bones, it just falls off. We need to restructure our system slowly but surely from the beginning, to the middle, and end. Quick fixes get us nowhere but relieved for the moment, to face the same problem again. American values have fallen short of what we originally stood for in earlier years. The Judicial, Presidential, and Congress branches are supposed to set the example for the people to live by. Instead, they spend a whole year arguing about why their party is right. What happened to consensus? The task of setting ones personal views aside to get to the business of resolving a greater issue at hand? Is it really that hard to be open minded or meet in the middle? What good is it to argue all year around? One of the biggest issues is when we as country focus on one problem, ignorant people  take us further back in history to revisit issues that have already been resolved and that should be laid to rest. It is like driving while looking in the rearview, you will never get ahead or worst you will wreck. I do not identify with either party because while I appreciate the “individualism” party identification allow us to feel as constituents, I believes it separates us more than it “represents” us as a nation and what Americans stand for. I believe we should have more independents in congress, those who do not hold agendas. In that respect, this political game has been more of ‘democrats versus republicans.” Instead of “republicans and democrats” those who we are depending upon to change this nation but who cannot seemingly do their jobs as professional adults. I think most of congress forget whose interest they are actually representing. In conclusion, I really would like to believe there is hope for our future. If people lose hope then there will be no reason to live or obey laws. I am not against the government and I do believe that we can create a better future for our children. The problem is most politicians are living for today and today only. This is very selfish and careless on the nation’s leader’s behalf. We depend on our government and its employees to do their jobs accordingly and as if someone were watching their every move. When I make it to Washington, I will fight for what I was taught America stood for. I will fight for our children to have the best education. I will fight for decency between the interaction of parties and sensitive issue. It is almost 2012, we are better than this.

Sincerely Brittany James

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