Election Day has been steadily arriving for some time now. Most of the focus has been on the hot topics that deal with the presidency, same-sex marriage in Maryland, the expansion of gambling, and the extension of in-state tuition to undocumented citizens. With the debate surrounding many of these topics, the most fundamental topic of all has been pushed aside: Congress. Surprisingly, even though the Congress is essential to the infrastructure of democracy exercised in the United States today, it is often overlooked.
Citizens are more focused on the topics that directly affect them. This is extremely plausible since people are more apt to defend and speak out on topics to which they are emotionally connected. Much of what the Congress weighs in on throughout the years is dry in terms of subject matter.
It is no surprise that when asked about their views on Congress, many people have neutral opinions. Three interviewees all expressed their feelings as being those of helplessness, as if their voice was not heard by those in Congress. Senior mass communication major Eric Nixon was asked about his views on Congress and simply stated, “Nope, don’t care.” When Chris Minnick, account clerk at the university bookstore, was posed with the same question she responded, “With the right people they do the right job. All you can do is vote consciously and respect who’s in there.” Dwayne Winslow, a senior psychology major, made the bold statement that, “The opposite of Congress is progress.” He defended his statement by stating that the people who make up Congress put too much emphasis in divisive issues and are not focused enough of trying to work together.
Clearly, it can be seen that although Congress is a staple in United States government, some citizens do not see the importance rather it be from a lack of education or more so the feeling of not being heard.
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