Every citizen deserves to be represented to the best of his legislator’s ability. If the system is broken to the point that this is no longer possible, it is time to change it. It is time to educate citizens about the abuses within our political system and to propose a practical solution to the problem.

It is not enough to talk about self-governance; we have to be willing to govern ourselves. If the system is not responsive and open, it is our responsibility to fix it. Voting is not enough. We must be willing to build, maintain, and fight for a government that respects the right of its citizens to real representation.

The first step to restoring true representative government is my proposal for Open Government. Until we correct the dictatorial consolidation of power in our state legislatures and Congress, little in the way of permanent, positive change is possible. By leveling the playing field so that all legislators can represent their constituents, we can open the door for real, common-sense reforms that serve the people and make government better and.

The proposal for Open Government is simple. As a state representative in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, I proposed a bill that would have required two things:

A bill shall be heard and receive a vote in committee if the primary author requests it in writing, and
A bill, having passed committee, shall be heard and receive a vote on the House or Senate floor if the primary author requests it in writing.

This proposal would make it possible for any legislator to do what he is sent to do—represent the people. Of course, the outcome cannot be guaranteed. A bill might be defeated, even if it is a good bill with wide public support. But even when a bill is soundly defeated in committee, or on the House or Senate floor, two good things have happened:

The ideas expressed in the legislation have been given a public forum. Even if the bill fails, the ideas have been publicly discussed by lawmakers, thus raising awareness, and forcing them to think about the issue.
Every legislator’s vote now becomes a part of the official public record.

Both of these are good things. In the first instance, public conversation is important as a starting place for change to occur. In the second instance, that vote becomes a part of every legislator’s permanent voting record. The record makes it impossible for any legislator to claim support or opposition to a bill when the opposite is true. Constituents can see exactly how their legislators voted and can compare that to their campaign promises.

The first step is to fix the state legislatures. Most of the problems we face as a nation must first be addressed at the state and local level. More people are losing faith in our federal legislators to fix Washington D.C. It has been estimated that if about twenty percent, that is ten, of the states adopt any law, it begins to apply enough pressure to move the federal government in the same direction. In order for that to happen, individuals in every state need to fight for this reform in their own state legislatures.

The next chapter is about the steps necessary to implement Open Government and turn things around.

Ultimately, the best solution to breaking up Leadership’s concentration of power would be an amendment to the state constitution granting all legislators the right to have their bills heard and voted on if requested in writing.