Creating Awareness Using the Congressional Scorecard
by Robert Owens, Program Director
Robert Welch was keen to say that there will be no accountability at any level of politics until there is accountability at the electorate level. The John Birch Society puts action to those words through multiple specialized campaigns, but there is perhaps none more devastating in its impact than the Congressional Scorecard. It is geared to educating an electorate about how their congressman voted and — of great significance — includes the cost per household for each vote, when applicable. For example, many congressmen voted for foreign aid to Ukraine. However, there is no constitutional authority for Congress to spend money on foreign aid. Additionally, the United States already has a huge budget deficit, and families are struggling to make ends meet with sky-high prices for gas, utilities, groceries, and other necessities. Americans are not willing to accept this kind of government malfeasance. Because the Scorecard shines light on this recklessness, it is devastating.
JBS members in Northern Ohio formed an ad hoc committee called The Education Club. This committee raised money to run a copy of the Congressional Scorecard in the Toledo Blade and has printed and distributed the Scorecard in vast quantities. The reactions to the effort clearly demonstrate that this campaign is every bit as effective as it was back when it was known as TRIM (Tax Reform IMmediately).
President James Garfield once commented, “[N]ow, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.” Let’s double down in informing the electorate.