What good comes from fretting our nation? Action, not anger, offers a far better chance of changing things than venting and complaining.
I’ve recently been asked by fellow citizens why “Congress doesn’t do something about this or that!” Here is one example:
“Why doesn’t Congress stop third parties from ‘jacking up’ the price of concert tickets? Capitalism at its worst,” was this fellow American’s lament to me. I live in a medium-sized city. A big name 1990’s rockstar is coming to town. Seats are in demand, but the cheapest ticket, apparently, is going for $400.00. The expensive seats are $1300.00. The person asking this question was bemused that when you go online to buy a ticket, you are immediately routed to a third-party website. The price is marked up to an extremely high level from the original price.
Practicing Action Over Anger
I gently reminded this grown adult that people pay the high prices for entertainment, viewing it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When We the People stop paying high prices for entertainment events, prices come down. That’s how this works. If Congress regulates concert ticket prices, it may sound like a good idea, but how much of your life do you want regulated by the U.S. Congress? As I told my students, the more laws Congress makes, the more laws you have to follow.
Freedom carries with it tremendous responsibility, and frankly, inconvenience. We the People can contact our Congressional representatives when we have a complaint. Congressional staff reads our emails and notes how many people agree or disagree with proposed legislation on specific issues. The problem is that we expect our anger to produce a favorable outcome. Respectful adult communication through the proper channels is the first action to take when change is desired.
Take Action!
Anger changes nothing but your blood pressure. What appropriate, respectful actions can you take to bring about the changes you seek?
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship.🇺🇸
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Additional reading:https://civicsandcitizenship.org/crisis-and-citizenship-teaching-students-to-think-and-do-like-americans/
