How I Wish Our Lawmakers Could Use the Same Anger and Energy to Address Corruption, Unemployment and other Issues Directly Affecting Citizens
If anything, the events of the last few days have increasingly shown that, whenever our lawmakers are passionate about an issue and want to address it, they will do every possible to achieve it. It has shown that even those perceived as “Bobo lawmakers” can speak out and meaningfully participate in discussions, except that they have not found reasons to do so, despite being continuously paid salaries and benefits to adequately represent their districts, counties, and the country, broadly.
For the record, I don’t support Representative Yekeh Kolubah’s style of public discourse, despite his free speech right being protected by the Constitution, just as all others. I am aware that insults and reckless statements are harmful to society, the degree and extent to which they amount to treason and become basis for expelling a lawmaker or holding someone in contempt can always be argued.
However, Corruption does far more Harm to our Wellbeing and Sovereignty, but we are not doing enough to tackle it. Once it benefits the elites and their collaborators, they don’t care that much about the effects on the generality of the population. Once their children and family members are well-fed, attend elite schools, have multiple cars to ride, and have access to the best medicare, the rest of the people can find their own solutions. This is highly unfortunate.
Often than not, you see lawmakers very angry and passionate about issues when they border on their personal interest. You see them vocal and eager to find solutions when prevailing issues border on their legislative support, salaries and benefits, election or removal of their leaders, and whenever they are disrespected by agents of the executive and other persons in society.
If only they were passionate about dealing with corruption, unemployment, tackling the defects in the health, education, and other sectors and other challenges affecting society, this country will be far developed and productive than we have it. Imagine the passion and energy with which they dealt with the Yekeh Kolubah’s issue, reconvening and making it a top priority, so much so that they made a decision on the matter within days.
Compare that to how long it takes for them to review and act on audit reports from the general auditing commission or make attempts at investigating and addressing mismanagement and other issues affecting public Corporation and other agencies of government. Talk about the challenges facing concession communities and the limited efforts they make to address them, except for few of them who have shown to really be on the side of the people.
Liberia will Not be developed when we keep deploying vital energies and angers in directions that do not matter much to the people or help to solve the bread and butter issues faced by ordinary citizens. We have to prioritize our priorities and focus on unemployment, corruption and other critical issues that will end centuries of underdevelopment, wastefulness in government, and marginalization of the people.
