Embedded Files
[1] Of course, the toxic behavior isn’t limited to Washington. We see it everywhere: state legislatures, city councils, school boards, online debates, and everyday political conversations among neighbors, friends, and family. This pamphlet specifically focuses on the US Congress, including both candidates for the upcoming midterms and existing members, because they are the most visible (just flip over to cable news), ineffective (see the recent government shutdown), and possibly most misguided group of lawmakers vis-a-vis faithfully representing the People’s interests. The Pledge applies at all levels of government; the hope is that representatives in Washington will lead by example and set the tone for change everywhere.
[2] Recent examples of lawmakers who faced serious political consequences after acting independently, breaking with party orthodoxy, or prioritizing institutional integrity include:
Liz Cheney (R-WY), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Justin Amash (R-MI), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Joe Manchin (D-WV).
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/opinion/nancy-mace-congress-republicans.html
[4] And don’t try turning on your TV to get to the bottom of things in Washington. I watch a ton of cable news, and I like to sample various channels that (mis)represent facts to please both sides of the political aisle. Most nights, the opposing anchors seem to be talking about two entirely different countries. They don’t just take different slants; they cover completely different events, often ignoring each other’s headline stories. They have, in other words, adopted the first rule of engagement and seek to trigger viewers with emotionally laden coverage; truth and balanced coverage be damned.
[5] Our brains are not designed for this environment. We evolved to respond to dramatic stimuli because noticing danger kept our ancestors alive. What is that rustle in the bushes? A tiger? Or the wind? You look, you investigate, you move your family away from the dangerous situation. These ancient instincts make us particularly vulnerable to misinformation today. The constant “rustle in the bushes” of our media machine—alarming headlines, doctored videos, and frightening posts—almost requires our constant attention.
[7] I’ll avoid getting too far into the weeds about gerrymandering here, a detailed discussion is beyond the scope of this pamphlet (maybe next time, Gerry), but readers should check it out on YouTube and learn why they called it gerrymandering in the first place (pretty interesting stuff) and why we need national reform to change the way districts are drawn ASAP.
[10] Also on the list: “Banning congressional stock trading: Eighty-six percent of voters are in favor. Term limits: Eighty-seven percent of adults support them. Voter ID: Seventy-six percent of people support requirements. These are bipartisan supermajority positions.” https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/opinion/nancy-mace-congress-republicans.html
[13] See, my previous political pamphlet, Common Sense 2019: A Bipartisan Call to Take Back Our Government, for details and proposals specific to reforming campaign financing.
[14] Former Congressman David Jolly described this experience on 60 Minutes: party leaders told him that as a new member of Congress, his “first responsibility” was to raise $18,000 a day, and he recalled being sent to cramped call centers he later called a “cult-like boiler room” where members “are compromising the dignity of the office they hold” by spending hours begging for money instead of doing the People’s work. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/preview-dialing-for-dollars/
[15] For a thorough discussion of this dynamic, check out: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-money-shapes-pathways-power-congress
[16] https://sanford.duke.edu/story/bipartisanship-still-possible-says-sen-olympia-snowe/
[17] For a fascinating bipartisan roundtable on the inner workings of the Senate, please visit: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/13/magazine/senators-manchin-flake-smith-interview.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20251227&instance_id=168535&nl=from-the-times®i_id=68653847&segment_id=212826&user_id=bbf266d097ab415a5ff2e7d40a75d2b9
[19] See my previous political pamphlet, Common Sense 2019: A Bipartisan Call to Take Back Our Government, for more on campaign finance reform.
[20] https://sanford.duke.edu/story/bipartisanship-still-possible-says-sen-olympia-snowe/
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse