At the Crossroads of Niceness

 

By Gretchen Garrity

The Missouri Republican Party is having an internal battle to determine what it looks like in the future. Right now, the big money interests, traditionally conservative think tanks, and private organizations are fighting to maintain the status quo.

What is the status quo?

It's the domination of the big money interests and lobbyists over We the People. These groups have long been influencing our elected representatives in Jefferson City without much opposition. Even the good ones. Let me repeat that: Even the good ones.

Bills that may be unconstitutional from the start, that include loads of shoddy legislation and are added to with amendments that have little to do with the original bill, are common.

Special interests often write the bills. Party machines often strongly encourage representatives to vote one way or another.

These (and other) reasons are why a so-called Republican super majority gets very little done, and what does get done adds more government control and benefits the special interests and not We the People. It could be said that there is not a super majority of Republicans, but a lot of RINOs and Democrats serving as Republicans.

In recent years the Missouri grassroots movement has grown. Politically active citizens are engaging their representatives, circumventing the censorship of the legacy media, and getting the word out.

They read bills, they visit their representatives, they network, and they speak up. This is causing a ruckus, not only with the political machine, but on the ground level. A fundamental disagreement has arisen about how citizens should be conducting their free speech when it comes to their representatives.

One side favors the Ronald Reagan view:

Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment: "Thou shalt not speak ill of thy fellow Republican." pic.twitter.com/vaujK5bkAa

— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) July 12, 2017

What this "commandment" has done is allowed a form of political correctness to run rampant among the ranks. Republicans are urged to not criticize their representatives. Pressure is put on them to tone down their opinions, especially in a public forum. Presenting facts is fine, but citizens are not to be saucy. 

This is terribly dangerous. Just on the face of it, muzzling citizens from calling out their representatives does four immediate things:

• It gives representatives cover for when they vote against the people
• It allows representatives to ignore and shun constituents who dare to criticize
  
• It gives lobbyists a BIGGER voice and influence over our elected representatives
  
• It mutes the voice of the people

Never trust anyone, Democrat or Republican, who doesn't vigorously go after their own party when they're wrong.

Anyone on social media who sides with either party 100% of the time, can NEVER be trusted.

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) April 16, 2024

It allows the political machine to continue strong-arming representatives to vote against the interests and wishes of their constituents.

Further, it encourages division and dissension among Republicans on the ground. Those with influence attempt to use it against others to shut down criticism. This just strengthens the political machine at the Capitol, encouraging more of the same.

Interestingly, lobbyists and representatives are also emboldened to do the very thing citizens are accused of--criticizing those who disagree. Exhibit A:

Regardless of your position on the issue the fact is NO individual or group has tried to scare members and constituents with fear and outright lies more than the posse hiding behind “MO Ed Watch” https://t.co/fZ8PHhd6kj

— Ben Baker (@BenBakerMO) April 16, 2024

I speak now to Christians. There is no 11th Commandment. Either we will have a free and open society in which those within a party can vigorously disagree and engage each other and our representatives on the issues of the day, or we will further lose the freedoms we hold so dear.

Citizens have the right to God-given free speech to call out wrong thinking and wrong acting within their own political party. No more hiding behind Party. It is and has been compromised.

Representatives should be held accountable for their votes, both at the ballot box and in the public arena. If they can't stand the heat, then they aren't fit for office and should step aside. If they prefer the company of lobbyists and moneyed interests, then they are not representing the People.

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." (The 10th Amendment)