We Fought A Revolution Over This

By now, most of you are aware of the ongoing Republican revolt on the House floor. However, many of you may not know the story of how it began.

Last Friday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi banged her gavel and sent the House of Representatives into a five-week recess. While the House usually takes a recess in August, what made this move unusual was the timing. Before the House goes to recess, Representatives are given to opportunity to sign up for what are known as “5 minute speeches.” During these speeches, members of Congress are permitted to talk about issues that they believe to be important before Congress goes out of session. On Friday, over 100 Republican members had signed up to give their speeches per House rules only to have Speaker Pelosi end the session before giving them their chance to speak. Rather than be silenced, the jilted members decided to give their speeches anyway and began the guerrilla session.

As I sat in the House chambers this week listening to this story being told, it struck me that Speaker Pelosi’s actions bore a striking similarity to those taken by King George III of England that ultimately led to the American Revolution.

When the Colonies decided to break away from Great Britain, a decision was made that necessity of the break should be clearly outlined and justified to the rest of the world. This justification was the Declaration of Independence - a document that enshrines the most sacred principles this nation was founding upon. The Declaration also lists a multitude of the abuses committed by the British Crown on the colonies. Two of these abuses, I believe, are especially relevant to the current situation in Congress:

“He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.”

AND

“For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.”

These two passages illustrate one of the primary complaints the colonies had - they were not given equal representation in British Parliament.

By banging her gavel and silencing the Republican minority before they were allowed their opportunity to speak, Nancy Pelosi has essentially suspended our legislature and declared herself the sole authority on what kind of legislation is good for the American people. She has not only silenced the opinions of Republican members of Congress, but also the people that they represent.

Since the people are the ultimate source of authority in our Republic, Speaker Pelosi should not be surprised that a revolution that is brewing. While the first revolution was fought with cannons and muskets, this revolution is being fought with speeches, blog entries, protests, and will ultimately will be won with ballots.