From here in DC, it's day three of Capitol Hill Oceans Week 2008. With little time to blog, the highlight from Wednesday's session on coral reefs:
Notable panelists, impressive powerpoints and a clear message: Corals are in serious trouble. Speakers were excellent, but this wasn't new information to many in the room considering coral reefs have been 'in trouble' every year of CHOW. After the discussion, scientists, hill staffers, and environmentalists proposed the typical questions. Ho hum.
Then it happened. A bright young 12-year-old girl approached the microphone. 'I've been diving for two years', she began, and then explained why she cares about reefs. She wanted to know what she could do--and what the panelists were doing to set things right.
Genuine and simply put, she asked the best question all week.
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There is plenty of hope for our country and this world in the minds and spirit of young people.
So, how was this great young person answered?
Judging by the sudden end to your post, an embarrassed silence followed the question?
Good question indeed
I'd ALSO bet the question was met with silence -- or perhaps an effort to change the subject.
That's basically the very same question everyone should ask their Congressional representatives:
What have YOU personally done TODAY?
Not "What did you do last week, last month, last year or before the Iraq war?" ("I voted against authorizing the war"), not "What ARE you GOING to do tomorrow?", but "What did you DO TODAY?
I'd bet you would get the same silence/effort to change the subject from both sides of the aisle.
These people who say they represent us need to be held accountable for what they are doing right NOW -- and they need to be held accountable EVERY day of every week of every year.
No more excuses. No more kicking the can down the road. No more blaming it all on the Republicans. No more "We don't have the 60 votes" garbage.
Either they should do the job that they are getting paid a King's ransom for ($170,000 per year) or they should get out of Congress.