Monday, January 19, 2026

"Make me do it!"

 


There is a fabled conversation with FDR that goes something like this:
Activists:    “Mr. President, you must do this for the working people.”
Roosevelt:  “I agree. I think you’re right. I want to do it.” (Pause)
                    “But you’ll have to make me do it.”

Now, this is cute story and all and tries to make the point that the public needs to be involved in civic action... but, well to be blunt, it's a BS excuse for politicians to NOT do their job.

The voters did their job, they voted you in, they raised money, they knocked on doors and had conversations with their neighbors... once you're in office it's YOUR f-ing job to get the stuff written up and passed. It's YOUR job to handle impeachments or keep other branches of government in check. It's YOUR job to convince or create pressure on your "colleagues" to vote your way. It's your job to stop the abuse of power and the abuse to the people.

People are checking out of the political system because no matter who they get in office, things just get worse and they don't want to hear that there "was no mandate from the people" or whatever nonsense is coming out of politicians' mouths. Show us that you've exhausted all your tools before coming back to the people. Sometimes people do need to take to the streets, but I don't think these politicians have wielded the power we've given them to do what we've asked them to do.

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"Make me do it!"

  There is a fabled conversation with FDR that goes something like this: Activists:     “Mr. President, you must do this for the working peo...

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