Hopyard

Our government in all its branches and forms and units is what I am speaking of. The whole thing, as it is outlined in our constitution.

Too many here have forgotten or perhaps never learned the phrase Lincoln used-- of the people, by the people, and for the people.

That is mostly what we have with some notable exceptions where special interest groups dominate the discussion; but these as well are still part of "the people."

Every last one of you reading this is fully capable of mounting a campaign for a local office and attempting to build that into more. Every last citizen reading this still gets to vote.

Too often people confuse outcomes that they don't like with a government that is not of the people. We forget, that with 300 million people living here there are innumerable group and regional interests which must be satisfied in one way or another and therefore
we get, inevitably, laws that don't please large segments of the population, or laws which are the product of excessive and sometimes ridiculous compromise--- at other times are the result of critter's panic and stampede.

None of this means that ordinary people are helpless. It may mean that the issue we hold dear doesn't get the attention we want or the law we --as individuals--want.

So, celebrate July 4th with a touch of pride an patriotism. And complain all you want about "the government," secure that by and large our government works exactly as it was set up to work.

Moreover, laws passed by a legislature (one house of which requires a super-majority), and laws which are then signed by a president elected by a majority, and which later are not found to be lacking by the courts, can't be logically said to not be products of "we the people," through our representatives.

Complaining, moaning and groaning, are fine. Just don't overlook the fact that the thing is working about as well as it can possibly work in a complex country with 50 individual states, large regional differences in point of view and general outlook, and a huge amount of cultural and religious, as well as ethnic and racial diversity.

Finally, remember that you as an individual are a tiny part of 300 million people. Your representative is a tiny voice representing a diverse population of about 700,000 of the people where you live.
Your representative is a tiny single voice in a population of represenatives with The House. Legislation coming out of The House is as representative of the majority wishes as could possibly had.

Personally I think the whole thing needs some major restructuring for efficiency, but that isn't going to happen, and is a different subject in any case.

When complaining about taxes, don't forget the benefits those bring us as well.