“No taxation without representation” was one of the rallying cries of the American Revolution. It reflected a simple belief, if the government expected our money, our obedience and our trust, then it owes us accountability. Apparently, elected officials no longer agree.

I have contacted my state representative seven separate times with a simple question. Seven times I reached out politely. Seven times I said “please” and “thank you.” Seven times I was ignored. 
What shocks me the most is not potential disagreement. It is the arrogance.

Do these officials ignore the fuel gauge in their car? Do they ignore a crying baby who needs to be feed? Do they ignore their spouse or partner when they are trying to make an important point? Of course not. Yet they seem to feel completely free to ignore the people they represent. Their employer is the public. 

We are told to vote, pay attention, stay engaged and trust the process. But what exactly are citizens supposed to think when even a simple, respectful question is met with silence again and again?

I took civics. Representative government is supposed to mean something. Public office is not a lifetime entitlement, and seniority is not a constitutional principle. If presidents are term-limited, and governors in many states are term-limited, why should representatives be allowed to sit in office for decades while becoming less and less accountable to the people they serve? 

The least an elected official owes the public is an answer.

Daniel Milligan
Portland