John Washington III: How Can Politicians Claim to Work for the People When They Never Fight for the People?

Presidential candidate John Washington III says the election-season script never changes. “Every election season, we hear the same thing,” he wrote. “‘I’M WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE!’ ‘I’M FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE!’ ‘I’M HERE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE!’ BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THE FIGHT?”

On policing, John Washington III asked why the officials who claim to represent the people are not in the fight when it counts. “When police officers abuse their authority or engage in corruption, where are these politicians who claim to represent the people?” he wrote. “WHY AREN’T YOU FIGHTING TO HOLD CORRUPT POLICE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE? WHY AREN’T YOU STANDING UP FOR THE CITIZENS WHO PUT YOU IN OFFICE?”

On property taxes, he asked why politicians talk about lowering the tax but never seriously discuss ending it on the homes people own and live in. “Why should an American family spend 20 or 30 years paying off their home, only to continue paying property taxes on that same home for the rest of their lives?” John Washington III wrote. “WHEN DO THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET TO OWN WHAT THEY WORKED THEIR ENTIRE LIVES TO PAY FOR?” He also asked how a politician can campaign on lowering property taxes, win office, and then vote for tax increases.

His closing questions were about whether the public is even told what is being decided. “How many citizens even know what’s being voted on?” he wrote. “WHY AREN’T THE PEOPLE BEING MADE FULLY AWARE OF DECISIONS THAT COULD INCREASE THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS? WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY? WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY? WHERE IS THE REPRESENTATION?” A politician cannot claim to fight for the people in front of cameras, John Washington III wrote, and then ignore the issues affecting their everyday lives in office.