Leaders need to let residents be heard

The phone call from my son was upsetting. Another one of his friends had to drop out of school because of a college fund that had lost money. His parents didn't think they could afford to even cosign a loan for him.

I know how they feel. College expenses are the number one worry in my life right now. College funds are falling and college expenses, even at state schools, are on the rise.

I decided that I needed to take my concerns to my congressman. With government bailouts dominating the news, I wanted to know what can be done for these smart college kids. Is it possible to put a freeze on tuition increases? Can there be more student loans available for the middle class who are struggling? These were questions I decided that I needed to ask.

Through blizzard like conditions, I made my way to Congressman Bill Foster's office where an open house was held last Saturday. With the weather so bad, I expected to be one of a handful of people hoping to meet with the 14th congressional district representative.

What a surprise when I opened the door to the congressman's River Street office and found the open house standing room only. Seniors concerned about their retirement, a family worried about funding for their special needs child, a special interest group hoping to sway the congressman to their side, were all there, hoping for a bit of his time.

The crowd was orderly as they stood and waited hoping for a brief moment to be a part of the government process. It reminded me of the scene from "It's A Wonderful Life" where the people storm the Bailey Savings and Loan and ask George Bailey to give them their money. George knows that he can't give them an immediate solution but he promises to do what he can.

Christine Hansen made the trek from Oswego. She is involved in promoting free technology for Internet services through the use of a volunteer network and has met with the congressman in the past.

"In the southern part of the district, sometimes Congressman Foster would just set up a table at the Jewel and it still didn't produce a crowd like this," she said.

Hansen wasn't there to try and get government funding. She was there to thank the congressman for his support. Although she doesn't consider herself a political person, Hansen will be attending the inauguration in Washington and has wrangled an invitation to a ball as well. This will be her first inauguration.

"I'm looking forward to it," she said. "It;'s a very historic event."

Hansen mentioned that she has purchased a gown and I asked her if she had registered the dress. This year the inauguration committee is encouraging women to register what gown they will be wearing at dressregistry.com in hopes of avoiding the dreaded "Same Dress Syndrome."

Hansen let go with a hearty laugh and told me that she grew up in the south where she learned good manners.

"I was brought up to handle that situation by just complimenting the woman in the same dress and telling her what great taste she has" she added.

As many of the constituents tramped through the snow to get to the cars, it reminded me of a line from the popular Jimmy Stewart film.

"Do you know how long it takes for a working man to save $5,000?" asks George Bailey. " ... (These people who) are working and paying and living and dying in this community. Is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath?"

Maybe government can't solve all our problems, but at least our government representatives can listen and, in the future, maybe provide a chair for those who choose to wait to have their voice be heard.