The United States Government is theoretically as accessible as an institution of government can be. The U.S. Constitution protects your god given rights of Life, Liberty, and the Property, by defending your route of governmental challenge in the Bill of Rights. The United States is a democracy, which means that you may vote for any public official who you feel best articulates and safeguards your interest. A federal geographical separation of state and national government, in addition to a host of local institutions, provides all sorts of access points to influence the public officials who represent you.
In theory, we should be all over our government. We should push so hard that it has no alternative but to adhere to our cumulative interests. The structure of the systems begs our engagement. However, if it is to work we have to be involved. We must be Awake! And we need to understand the construction of the institutions, and the individuals who temporarily fill those offices. If you understand what purpose your state and federal institution serve, then you know where to go to complain about potholes, challenge a woeful lack of funding for higher education, or protest US military involvement in Afghanistan. Continue reading
