Do you guys remember watching the video in like junior high that explains how a bill becomes a law? It layed out the process pretty clearly and made it sound pretty simple. I think it may be time for a new video. The new video may need to include something about there being two political parties that dislike each other and try to kill each other's bills on a regular basis.
With the passage of the healthcare bill I can't help but think our process for making laws isn't working quite how it should. I would argue that the average person doesn't know much about the healthcare bill and yet it has already been voted on and passed. If the job of our congresspeople and senators is to represent us with their votes it seems like they should have an understanding about how we feel about the bill before they cast their vote. But if most of us don't know what is in the bill then how can we form an opinion and pass that along to our representatives so they can vote accordingly.
Here's my issue. Who's responsibility is it to make sure the public is well-informed about what our government is doing. Is it on us to research on our own and then send our opinions to our representatives? Should our representatives be taking steps to make sure we know what they will be voting on and ask us for our input? Should some one from the whitehouse be making efforts to explain everything? Should TV and other media outlets do more extensive coverage that gives all the information about a bill?
What do you think? Also, do you feel like you know what is in the bill that just passed? (yes or no, you don't have to explain the bill)
With the passage of the healthcare bill I can't help but think our process for making laws isn't working quite how it should. I would argue that the average person doesn't know much about the healthcare bill and yet it has already been voted on and passed. If the job of our congresspeople and senators is to represent us with their votes it seems like they should have an understanding about how we feel about the bill before they cast their vote. But if most of us don't know what is in the bill then how can we form an opinion and pass that along to our representatives so they can vote accordingly.
Here's my issue. Who's responsibility is it to make sure the public is well-informed about what our government is doing. Is it on us to research on our own and then send our opinions to our representatives? Should our representatives be taking steps to make sure we know what they will be voting on and ask us for our input? Should some one from the whitehouse be making efforts to explain everything? Should TV and other media outlets do more extensive coverage that gives all the information about a bill?
What do you think? Also, do you feel like you know what is in the bill that just passed? (yes or no, you don't have to explain the bill)
2 comments:
Although the town hall meetings became quite the circus, that was their intent--to educate the public about the reform. I do think our representatives should reach out to us and media should offer more substantial information, but the burden is on us to be educated.
I agree Sherry we must be educated we need to be learners and on top of what is going on. I think the problem is we are not being given the information we need and in fact deserve. I am curious how we are to educate ourselves about the recent health care bill when many in our government do not appear to know what it says.
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