O Democracy.

Capitol Hill is at odds, and it has been for some time. Our Legislature represents us, the people, but yet has no idea who we are. Politicians are more or less born and bred nowadays; they aren't the average American, you and me. Is that where the problem lies? Has Capitol Hill become so out of touch with the mission intended for them by our founding fathers? They've become so entrenched in the anxieties and demons of popularity, of re-elections, of appearances and legacy and party affiliations.

Finger pointing is easy. Politicians aren't elected to make changes; they're elected to bring our voices to the public forum, to make the changes WE vote for. So the question now is: how have we let Congress float away from us? They fret over their seats, their positions and their re-elections, because their constituents decide if they get to stay. They get on their soap boxes and rally with their catch phrases and shiny resumes, so that we may ensure their status quo.

Our power, the power of the people, are our voices, our opinions. This then translates to our votes: to not vote is to not care. To not care is to not know. TO not know is ambivalence and laziness. Do I think everyone should vote? No. An ill-informed, manipulated vote is a vote sways the people's cause, but there's no firm, valid metric to gauge who is ill-informed, miss-informed and informed. Democracy's not perfect. Nothing is.

So what of ambivalence? Every person has cares in this world. Should they be truly ambivalent to all things in life, then they've ceased to be a contributing member to society. So what of it? Where did it come from? People rally for their favorite sports teams; they rally when their favorite TV shows get canceled. So what about public policies incite such deference?

We've lost sight of our community. Public policies touch most everyone's lives: for better or for worse. The decisions that seem good and beneficial for all will inevitably hold consequences for some. That's the price we pay for the diversity that defines this country. In turn, we have allowed the plight of this country and its citizens: our friends, families and neighbors become lost in our personal wants and needs. I'm not saying these personal factors need to be shoved aside; most of an individual's opinions and wants are shared by others. Instead, I'm saying that we have lost sight of the bigger picture. Very few understand what that is anymore and what that means. I'm not sure I even know. Bottom line: people aren't willing to make the sacrifice for that bigger picture anymore: there is no single "greater good" for this country anymore.

People identify themselves with their families, their communities and their beliefs; all these things, we can share with others. You find allies in those you share an Alma mater with; you find these people at sporting events, in your office, at your community gym. More or less, the average person finds this unification and this sense of identity with others on a significantly small scale compared to the size of this country. I feel as if the identity and the name of being an "American" has become just that: a name. Don't get me wrong, there's still pride, but more than pride: there is a palpable sense of being disjointed.