Elected Democrats, now that we are facing the biggest retraction of constitutional rights in our history, with more yet to come, I wonder if you’re EVER going to step up to the plate with an all-hands-on-deck attitude, instead of constantly feeding your constituents your milquetoast reassurances and muttered sniveling banter.

Of course we are angry at Republican politicians but we’re angry at you, too. Because time after time you seem to miss the obvious solution in front of you: BE BETTER POLITICIANS.

In a perfect world, politics would only be about discussing the best policies to solve our multitude of issues. 

If it could only be that way. But it isn’t and never will be. You seem to think your positions on policy will be all it takes to get you over the finish line and elected to a seat. Policy positions are a good place to start, but you need to be better at politics. 

I would suggest doing what football teams do; they watch game films and observe what the other team is doing in order to counter them more effectively at the next match-up. 

You are not doing this. 

Stop looking down your noses at GOP politicians who put on over-the-top performances to get sound bites and social media views that go viral. They do it because it works. 

You can continue to laugh and point while you’re standing outside the boxing ring or you can get in and fight using their own weapons against them.

If you’re unsure how to do that, here is my suggestion: You need to connect with your voters. You can do that by channeling our despair and outrage. 

If you still don’t know what I mean, then I suggest watching Mallory McMorrow’s speech in Michigan. It was passionate. It was forceful. It was unrelenting and full of resolve. 

We need that now.

We need you, our elected representatives to step up the rhetoric and show us that you feel what we all feel. You need to show us that you see what is happening for what it is: a slow erosion of our right to privacy and constitutional rights and a clear road to dictatorship and authoritarianism. We are all frogs in a pot. We need you to jump out while there is still time and turn off the flame. 

Living in a blue state can be pretty frustrating at times, because letters to our congresspeople are frequently in the realm of preaching to the choir. I still write letters though, even though the preachy condescending pre-written responses on common topics are all I get in return. Honestly I wonder how many actual letters from constituents you actually see. 

I’m writing this letter to the editor in hopes that someone who can make a difference will see it. It’s hard to rise above the cacophony these days.

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. For the love of God, it’s not too late to be bold, take a risk, and try something new. Put a little fire in your bellies, pound some podiums, get yourselves out there.

Hear us. We need to know that you understand that this is not politics as usual. It is far far from it. This country is at a precipice. We expect you to behave as such. 

Val Anne Welch
PORT TOWNSEND