Those Who Show Up

Those Who Show Up

Last week I spent several hours sitting in a legislative committee room listing to public testimony regarding several proposed bills (AKA potential future laws). This may sound about as exciting as watching paint dry, but you would be surprised. I was at a meeting of the House Committee for Culture, Recreation, and Tourism who have several wildlife-related bills to consider. As sobering as my experience was on this one day with this one committee, it is downright frightening to realize this same thing is going on all around the capitol in regard to nearly every aspect of the daily lives of Texans.

You have probably heard some variation on the quote, ”the rules are made by those who show up.” Those who show up are the people who, for whatever reason, decide to prevail upon a legislator to carry a bill of proposed legislation through the channels. The reasons people have to do this may be for the greater good, or for their own personal good or gain, or simply to tweak the nose of someone else. Most of what I saw on Wednesday fell into the last two reasons. Another set of people who show up are the folks that show up to give their input during these public comment opportunities. There is no swearing-in for these testimonies so people are not legally bound to tell the truth or to refrain from speaking on an emotional versus a factual basis. Another group of people who show up are paid lobbyists who show up to give whatever information or misinformation is needed to get their client’s opinions and values applied in the legislators’ votes.

If you have been really paying attention so far, you may have noticed that the lawmaking process I observed has very little to do with what is practical, realistic, truthful, or oriented toward the majority of the people but has everything to do with what is emotional, idealistic, or oriented to individual and small-group interests.

Most of you know that I am a knitter. So what if I decided that I like only natural-fiber yarns? I like them so much that I hate synthetic yarns, like that Red Heart yarn that EVERYONE has at least one

A vintage 1970-ish Red Heart Afghan

afghan made from. So I draft a bill making the sale of synthetic-fiber yarns illegal in Texas. And then I find a legislator who is willing to present my bill to the appropriate committee. Next, I round up a bunch of my acquaintances to go testify before the legislative committees that synthetic yarns are so disturbing and dangerous to quality of life in Texas that they should be banned. And besides, banning synthetics would help support the growing alpaca-farming industry in Texas. If no one shows up to say we are a bunch of crazy people, that the choice between synthetic and natural fiber yarns should be strictly individual, that all those Red Heart Yarn afghans are keeping millions of Texans warm, and besides, it would drive over half of knitters and crocheters out of the craft to ban synthetics because only the wealthiest can afford to use all natural fibers—then guess what? The bill passes committee, gets voted into law by the legislature, and you now have to go to a neighboring state to buy Red Heart yarn! You go to Alco one day and there is no Red Heart yarn! How did this happen?

I know how—the rule was made by the people who showed up! And where were the rest of us? Likely going about our business working, going to school, taking care of our families, and trusting that our elected officials know what is important to us. The truth is, they do not know if we fail to tell them. It would be nice if we could all go participate at the capitol, but if you don’t have the time to do that, at least look over the pending legislation and give your representatives and senators a call or an email to let them know where you stand. Go to this address: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us. From there you can find all the info you need on all the current bills and how to reach your representatives. I have moved my blog to http://springcreekartsguild.blogspot.com--I will post links there to help you SHOW UP AND MAKE THE RULES!