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Tuesday, 29 May 2007 |
As a society, we put trust in our politicians to make decisions that best serve the American people – more specifically their constituency.
At least that’s the idea.
However, when one examines the voting record of U.S. Rep. Virginia
Foxx, a different idea comes to mind.
Foxx represents the fifth district of North Carolina, which includes Boone.
According to the U.S. Census, the fifth district is below the national average in both the number of people with a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree, so it would only make sense that education – especially higher education – would be one of Foxx’s goals.
Furthermore,
the area is slightly below the national average in terms of median
family income, and it is three percentage points lower in the number of
individuals living beneath the poverty line.
Thus, legislation that provides financial aid programs should be another goal.
Foxx’s voting record tells another story.
For example, in
the Jan. 31 passage of a bill increasing the amount granted in the
federal Pell Grant, Foxx voted against the bill.
In addition,
Foxx voted against the College Student Relief Act on Jan. 17, a bill
that amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to reduce
interest rates charged to undergraduate student borrowers.
The true irony
of her higher education voting record is that she was an Appalachian
State University professor from 1978 to 1985.
Foxx’s voting
negligence does not stop at higher education. It extends to one of the
hottest topics in America since the Vietnam War: the Iraqi War.
According to May
results of a national Gallup Poll, most Americans support the
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq using a timetable approach.
How does Foxx respond to the nation’s attitude?
She votes May 10
against legislation setting a 90-day withdrawal deadline and votes
against funding the troops via a 60-day installment plan that included
benchmarks.
According to
Foxx’s press office, she voted against the bills because “the military
is running out of money to fund our troops in Iraq.”
However, if
there is not action to start pulling troops away from the front line,
money will continue to be shipped off into the financial black hole
that is Iraq.
Unfortunately,
Foxx got her wish as Friday a $120-billion spending measure toward the
Iraqi War was passed through Congress despite the fact that the
legislation lacked a timetable.
Many criticized
Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for
voting against the bill since it cuts off funding for the troops.
This is not the case.
Such a bill is
not against troops, it is simply forcing legislation to have a plan so
that we are not floundering in our Iraq strategy.
According to the
Gallup Poll, the majority of Americans believe the war in Iraq was a
mistake. Passing legislation without a timetable is simply furthering
that mistake.
So what can we do? Many would say nothing.
While it may seem like nothing, there is grassroots approach already underway.
Protesters
gather in front of Foxx’s office off Hwy. 105 Ext. on the Monday
closest to the 19th of every month – the anniversary of the beginning
of the war in Iraq.
This is just one example of what can be done from the bottom up.
I encourage
everyone who is upset about these policies – both domestic and foreign
– to take a stand and tell Foxx that she is not accurately representing
our district.
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