A ray of hope is found in the rhetoric.
Upon the rise of rhetoric in the national media and among national leaders I’m compelled to comment upon the expulsion of two state representatives from the Tennessee legislature. As a citizen of the state I welcome the Federal government or any governing body moving to look at the actions of this State’s leadership through oversight. I do have a caveat; if it is without political or social biases.
This story starts with a violent protest against the free, legal, and constitutional ownership of firearms. That protest stopped the state legislators from being able to carry out the people’s business in the State House. As of this writing the pictures and videos of the assaults have been purged from a quick image search on the web. The protestors were loudly led and welcomed into the State’s assembly area by three legislators who later faced expulsion. Using raised fists and bullhorns they stopped all debate on a bill to provide for greater protection in schools through support of more police presence in those schools.
These untoward actions and the subsequent media outrage truly had little to do with the emotions of the people of Nashville who had just experienced horrific murders of children and teachers in private Christian school. Those protests were entirely for the benefit of those who wish greater control over your, and my, life. The expulsion of the District Representatives was entirely due to the inappropriate, unwarranted, and unruly actions of themselves on that day.
Spirited emotional debate, in light of facts, is the way of change in a representative republic. The manners, social courtesy, and rules of the House are all in place to allow for such debate during consideration of issues effecting those whom the legislators represent. I did not, nor did my representative in Nashville, see the violence, assaults, and disruption of my business in my house as furthering the debate. The House has rules of conduct meant to give an equal voice to the districts through their Representative. The three who were considered for expulsion, by leading the momentary violent takeover of the chambers, clearly violated their agreements to act in a civil and appropriate manner. The expulsions due to inappropriate behavior were entirely in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee.
As is required by law those districts which now have vacant seats in the State House must fill them. As should be, the two young men, duly elected representatives, were sent home to explain themselves and their actions to the leadership of their respective district. It is up to the people of those districts to determine how the now vacant seats should be filled. Having been sent to the “office” to discuss inappropriate, and often emotional, behavior during my younger years I wholely agree with the process. Go talk to the boss or a Sergeant to see if I’m going to get fired, admonished, or prosecuted then either go home or back to work. It is a process that works for the good of a civil people and also for those most directly involved who operate under the set of previously agreed upon rules, laws and values.
The story comes to a close with much continued blathering from personalities in the media and Washington DC whose job it is to whip uninformed people into a frenzy for their own aggrandizement. Yesterday I heard that after meeting with their respective district leadership the two expelled Representatives will be sent back to their seats to serve out their terms. I hope they were duly admonished by cooler heads and wish them well on their journey to becoming civic leaders.
Once upon a time the entire process we’ve witnessed as of late was the norm in representative government. Expulsions and recalls occurred in all levels of our respective republics. Elected representatives of the people were held to account and responsible for their actions.
Having watched and listened to all these processes I find hope for our civil system in the actions taken by and for the citizens of this State. Setting aside the opinions of those who have agendas which benefit only themselves I welcome an unbiased investigation by any official body into the “legality” or legitimacy of the process of accountability and responsibility exercised all too infrequently by we the people.
Here a couple of links with additional analysis:
I just can’t rap my mind around what would possess someone to send a petulant child to the state legislator to represent their interests especially if they are underprivileged. This is why barrios and ghettos remain barrios and ghettos while dysfunctional morons masquerade as social justice warriors championing the causes of the criminally insane.
There have been many emotional articles on the web about this issue. I stand by the fact that the people who elected the two juveniles are ultimately responsible for who represents them. Thankfully there are many other responsible adults in the room.
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