ISSUE: Election and economy

OUR VIEW: Make informed decision, let your voice be heard

The economic crisis (and it appears safe no matter your politics to call it just that) seems to have Democrats and Republicans agreeing on but one key thing: There has been a lack of regulation of Wall Street and the U.S. financial system. As one official put it during this week of falling financial giants: Someone’s been asleep at the wheel.

Democrat Barack Obama attacks Republican John McCain for saying the fundamentals of the economy remain OK.

McCain attacks Obama as a liberal who will raise taxes at the worst possible time as the economy suffers.

What would either do? It’s worth listening to the continuing debate even as Americans have reason to be pessimistic that either can really get the situation under control.

Good old-fashioned greed has been allowed to dictate Wall Street and the financial sector’s out-of-bounds behavior. And whether McCain or Obama can get a handle on the controls that are supposed to exist is a real question mark.

Listen to their ideas, promises, positions. Move beyond personality and party.

Americans are in a bind and it is too simple to say a Republican administration put us there.

As much as McCain is bound to suffer from association during these scary economic times in which his foes logically ask the old political question -- Are you better off today than four and eight years ago? -- he can counter that Democrats in their two years of controlling Congress have not set the world on fire in correcting problems.

If you’re not satisfied with weighing your presidential choice as a way of taking action, take another step toward involvement. Let your voice be heard.

Stephanie Vance, the advocacy guru at Advocacy Associates, is author of “Government by the People: How to Communicate with Congress” and a former Capitol Hill chief of staff. She writes:

“... It’s time to speak up. Now, if you’re thinking, ‘Well, that’s a waste of time, everyone knows that politicians won’t listen to the average citizen,’ frankly, you’re part of the problem. Politicians sure won’t listen to you if you aren’t speaking to them. That’s a self-fulfilling and defeatist prophecy.

“In fact, citizens have a powerful tool at their disposal.

“This tool will amplify the voices of real people over special interests and make politicians quiver in their boots. It’s called the power of constituency, and you can use it to have your views heard by government.

“Believe it or not, the most common phrase you hear in any elected official’s office is, ‘How does this connect to my constituents?’ You’re someone’s constituent: It’s time to leverage that influence to make a difference.”

She makes the case for the importance of voting, even going to work for a campaign if you believe it has answers. Contact elected officials, tell them your story of hardship during the economic downturn. They need to hear from people.

As Vance concludes: “The U.S. Constitution starts out with ‘We the people’ for a reason. If you don’t like what’s going on, you must share your views. Use the voting booth, e-mail, telephone, a fax machine ...

“Only through the use of that power of constituency do we purchase the right to whine about the state of our country. Once you’ve exercised your rights, feel free to whine away.”

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