If you were conscious during the election, you probably heard someone use the phrase “typical politician” to describe a candidate/candidates. Typically that phrase was said in a derogatory tone and accompanied by a look of disgust. The “typical politician” many of us imagine upon hearing this phrase is out of touch, dishonest, elusive, etc. etc. Naturally, we blame the politician for that and for the most part, with good reason.
That being said, I feel that’s the easy way out. By pointing the finger at the representative, we unburden ourselves of any responsibility. When we run down the list of “typical politician” behavior, Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) checks most, if not all of the boxes. However, as we check these boxes, we need to ask ourselves how we as individuals and as a constituency have allowed him to become that sort of politician. We made Davis what he is, so it stands to reason that should we wish to change his behavior for the better, we have the ability to do so as well. Conservative, liberal, independent, we all deserve a representative we can be proud of. We all deserve a representative that is accessible, honest, and acutely aware of the concerns of those that live and work in his district.
It seems to me that accessibility and an awareness of the issues facing his constituency go hand-in-hand. If Davis makes himself accessible, then the awareness of the issues will come about naturally. However, since Davis isn’t accessible, it shouldn’t be surprising that he’s out of touch with the vast majority of Americans on a wide range of issues. For example:
- polls show that 73% of Americans back an independent investigation into Russia’s interference in our election, yet Davis hasn’t made a public statement asking for one.
- 6 in 10 Americans oppose the repeal of the ACA, yet Davis will stop at nothing to do exactly that.
- Poll after poll after poll has shown that Americans overwhelmingly believe Trump should release his tax returns, yet Davis has voted to keep them secret.
- Donald Trump’s approval rating sits at a measly 40%, yet Davis has voted with the administration 96% of the time.
- 62% of Americans oppose the border wall, Davis supports it.
The list goes on, but I hope it’s clear from this data that when it comes to understanding what his constituents want, Davis is woefully out of touch.
Unfortunately, Davis believes he can continue to phone it in (often times literally) because we as a constituency don’t hold him to an appropriately high standard. We allow Davis to remain inaccessible by lowering the expectations he has to live up to. For example, if you’ve frequented Davis’s social media pages, or read some of the local papers you’ve seen the excuses many in this community for his continued refusal to hold a town hall, or be more transparent, or make himself more accessible in any meaningful way:
“These town halls are full of paid liberal protesters”
“I wouldn’t hold a town-hall if I was him, who wants people to yell at them?”
“Why would he meet with people that don’t like him?”
“All you want to do is make a spectacle”
“Democrats lost get over it!”
If you’re someone that’s used one of these excuses just take a minute and imagine a situation in which YOU are the person/party asking for better representation, increased transparency, or greater access. Imagine that Congressman Davis dismisses you and your concerns as nothing more than the rantings of “paid protesters”. I believe that if you’re being honest with yourself, you wouldn’t exactly be thrilled by that behavior. If you’re being honest I think that this approach would infuriate and frustrate you, and since we’re being honest with each other I can ask you this, why are you allowing Davis to do it to others?
You see, to excuse this behavior now may make sense to you, these arguments may seem legitimate, but if situations ever change and YOU are the one asking Davis to address your concerns, I imagine you’d find his behavior unacceptable. By making excuses and covering for Davis now, you will have created a situation in which YOU can be safely dismissed, mocked, and ignored by Davis or by any future representative. What you’re telling Davis and any future representatives of this district is that the bare minimum is acceptable. By excusing Davis’s elusiveness, you’re telling the next Congressmen that they too can be elusive.
By downplaying the calls for a town-hall you’re letting any future Congressmen know that should you ever want them to host one, they are safe in dismissing those requests. You’re telling future representatives that lying about you, ignoring you, and treating you like the enemy is not only tolerated, but they can actually expect a good portion of their constituency to cover for them.
So, let’s say you do want to discuss an issue with Davis. Let’s say situations change and suddenly you’re asking him to meet with you, or hold a town-hall. How would you go about it? Would you call his offices? That depends, is a form letter weeks later acceptable to you? If the answer is no, would you ask to meet with him personally? Davis privately met with between 50 and 100 constituents during the last congressional recess. That’s out of 700,000+ in the district. What do you think your chances of getting a meeting are?
If you can’t meet with him privately, the next best thing is to attend a town-hall and see if you can ask a question there, right? Well, Davis doesn’t hold town-halls, why would he, they’re just grandstanding events where nobody learns anything right? Just a big room full of paid protesters, right? He won and you should just get over it… right?
Do you see how quickly the roles can reverse? Do you see how something you once made excuses for becomes inexcusable?
Luckily, the way to avoid this is pretty straightforward. If you’re one of Davis’s supporters, demand better. If you’re not one of Davis’s supporters, demand better. Davis only behaves this way because the voters of his district have told him he can. Regardless of your political affiliation, ask yourself “Though I may not agree with them on everything (or even most things), would I be satisfied with the effort put forth by my representative? Would I like to be treated the way many in this district are being treated by their representative? Would it please me to live and work in this district, only to be called a paid protester when I have an issue?”
Going back to honesty, I think if we’re being honest with ourselves and with each other, we wouldn’t accept that behavior were it directed at us, and it’s on us whether or not we continue to allow it to be directed at others. We made the “typical politician” and we have the power to un-make it.