Congress needs to get it together

When one thinks of Congress, they normally think of Washington D.C. With senators and representatives of each state meeting for important meetings and such. What doesn't come to mind, however, is Congressional fundraising. These congressmen and women, sent into office to represent their respective state and come up with laws to govern the country, are essentially made to grovel for money from their more wealthy supporters. This is a clear injustice because it is pulling these congressmen from their jobs and instead making them into sales reps, raising funds just to be able to stay in Congress.

According to an article featured in the video, "...members spend anywhere from 25 percent up to 50 percent...of their time fundraising". Within the examples given of the different fundraisers held (birthday and wedding anniversary fundraisers included), Congress has even managed to make a fundraiser out of a Taylor Swift concert. It just sounds so silly, thinking of congressmen and women using their power to make Taylor Swift make money for them. And to make these calls, they have to go to this nondescript building and makes calls for hours on end. They also have to make sure that these citizens could easily dish out $1,000 dollars for their cause, so that limits their search even more. It honestly sounds ridiculous. Here one has some of the most influential people in the United States, and every day they are expected to badger for money and have fundraiser at a shady clam restaurant in D.C.

This reminds me of the prompt we received with the NEA and wondering whether tax dollars should unknowingly go into a scholarship that is known for cutting funds to certain programs within the arts. It just adds another thing onto the list that American people are paying for in taxes but have no clue what it goes to. If congress wants to own up to their use of Taylor Swift fundraisers, then they certainly should. The middle class should be able to know what is going on and then let their own representatives know what they feel on the matter. This whole situation was likened to the Cold War, with congressmen on both sides not wanting to give up the ghost before the other. If everyone in America were able to cooperate and state a way in which Congress could get its funds and keep the Senators and middle class happy, then I am all for it.