Politics and the Ultimate Sacrifice

What we are seeing in Washington today shows how far many politicians will go to protect their careers instead of their country.

The Cost of Silence

When Senator Susan Collins was asked about President Trump withholding funds that Congress had already approved, she did not take a stand. She simply hoped the courts would handle it. This is what happens when leaders put job security above constitutional duty.

The recent State of the Union address highlighted this problem with uncomfortable clarity. It was not just the misleading statements that were troubling, but the enthusiastic applause they received from GOP lawmakers who knew better.

How We Got Here

It happened slowly, with representatives abandoning one principle after another until there were none left. The fear of losing a career you worked hard for is understandable. But it does not justify staying silent when democratic systems are at risk.

What Sacrifice Actually Looks Like

Consider Pat Tillman's example. He walked away from a $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals after 9/11 to serve in the Army. He fought in Iraq and Afghanistan before tragically losing his life in a friendly fire incident.

When we compare Tillman's sacrifice to politicians unwilling to risk the President's wrath, the contrast is stark. What is a career worth when weighed against the duty to protect American democracy? Many service members have given everything to defend the principles these politicians will not even speak up for.

The System Only Works If People Use It

Our system of checks and balances functions only when people are brave enough to exercise them, even when it comes at a personal cost. That is not a flaw in the design. It is the design.

Alternative Choice is dedicated to breaking free from echo chambers while promoting meaningful election reforms. We welcome everyone across the political spectrum, conservatives, progressives, libertarians, and independents, to join this work. Understanding why our system produces the politicians it does is the first step. Changing the electoral mechanics that select them is the second.