Can “one rinky dink congressman... make a big impact”?

Election 2014

The following was written by me on behalf of a candidate for Congress who sadly failed in his bid to represent his party. 

Jimmy Stewart in Mr Smith Goes To Washington

In response to an article in the Santa Margarita Patch wherein I expressed my views on national defense, one reader challenged me with that question. Well, what can any one member of Congress do? Read Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile and then ask me that question. You may also watch the film version starring Tom Hanks, but you'll miss a lot of the key answers to your question.

Charlie Wilson, a member of Congress representing a district in Texas, felt that the United States should help the people of Afghanistan repel the Soviets who invaded their country in 1979. Despite indifference in Congress, a doubtful President, and a hostile State Department and CIA who tried to thwart his efforts, Charlie pressed forward. With the aid of a rogue CIA agent, Charlie secured funding and weapons for the insurgents known as the Mujaheddin. When he equipped them with shoulder-fired Stinger antiaircraft missiles, they were able to drive the Soviets away.

That's what one rinky dink Congressman from Texas was able to accomplish. Why couldn't I have a similar impact on the Pentagon where our national treasure is being wasted on weapons systems that our warriors don't want or need while our soldiers, sailors, and airmen are going without proper training and suffering cuts in pay and benefits?

Don't get me wrong. There's a lot more for a member of Congress to do than flush out the problems in the Pentagon. Members of Congress are ombudsmen for their constituents. If you ever have a problem with a bureaucracy, you'll be able to count on me to go to bat for you if I'm elected. No member of Congress can guarantee that you'll achieve your desired result, but at least you'll get the attention you deserve. Bureaucrats pay attention when a Congressional Representative calls because they know who really controls the purse strings. To ignore a member of the House of Representatives is to create a potential enemy who can cast a key vote against a bureau's budget.

I'll also help other members of Congress with their pet projects. Every person elected to Congress arrives with talents and background that incline them to focus on their special interests. Healthcare professionals in Congress will necessarily be focused on the unique problems of that industry such as those created by Obamacare. Business people will have special knowledge that will be useful in solving problems with the economy and jobs. 

Unfortunately, politics have gotten in the way in recent years and members of Congress have been legislating their ideology rather than the interests of their constituents. Even more egregious, they've been working for their political allies while allowing the Administration to use its bureaus and agencies to attack political adversaries. They can't seem to comprehend that a political adversary is not an enemy, but rather a fellow citizen with a different opinion.

Yes, one rinky dink member of Congress can do a lot of good while one ideologue in Congress can do a lot of harm. We have the legislation to prove it, don't we?