Fish Or Cut Bait

Most Southerners know this expression well and have heard it often from their older relatives who knew the importance of "doing what needs doing" no matter how hard the chore may be.

Fish or cut bait means to "make a choice about what you intend to do" or "either get to work in a productive manner or get out of the way and let someone else do what needs to be done."

This election year we need to "fish or cut bait" folks.

Particularly with our situation here in Vincent and the apparent "tone deafness" of our local Senators and Representatives who seem more interested in their own political hides than those of their citizens.

Take the time to visit the Secretary of State website and see who contributes to your representatives. Those records are open records and available to anyone who wants to browse them. If you don't know how to do that, send this site an email and instructions will be posted.

Break out of the two party mindset and do not assume a "D" or "R" beside their name is going to be what you really want from them despite your political inclinations. See what they have done, look at their records, follow the money on their contributors/PAC list and hold them accountable.
(*PAC definitions and contributors are also on the Secretary Of State website. Contact this site if you need help with that too. We are working on compiling that information, but it takes time).

On the Alabama Legislature home page, you can put in your zip code and find your local Senators and Representatives easily; many have home phone numbers listed and can be interrupted in the middle of "Sunday laundry" to talk with you.

They work for you and should be available to you, and they are if you make the effort, remember that.

Be respectful and to the point as you would to anyone that you wanted to listen to you, don't put them off with a barrage of complaints delivered in an angry, impatient tone. Think of how you would want to be spoken to and act accordingly. You catch more bees with flowers and since you are calling them at home, you have to temper your approach. That said, let them know you realize the power of your vote and that you will exercise that right when you fill out the ballot.

A secret; emails are not the most effective way to reach them. Letters and phone calls are by far the most effective means of getting their attention.

Nothing changes without a strong desire to effect change. If you want things to be different, then you as a citizen, must decide, if you are going to fish or cut bait.

*Please familiarize yourself with the "18 plus one" rule under the "Big Mule" Coalition links to the right located within the Encyclopedia of Alabama article. It illustrates how bad influences "buy" our politicians and the importance of holding politicians accountable and exercising your vote and voice during election cycles.