The Nebraska Breakfast

I like to visit Washington D.C. because it reminds me over and over that the foundations of this county were an incredible emergence from the status quo.  The concept that all men are created equal wasn't standard fare in the 18th century, even on this side of the Atlantic.  The idea that government should be a servant to the governed was and still is an amazing departure from precedent and from much of the rest of the world.

The whole reason we were in D.C. was so that John and some of his alfalfa buddies could talk to the congressmen, to the EPA, and to other federal agencies, about issues that are relevant to forage producers.

This is the official shot of the Nebraska Alfalfa delegation and Senator Ben Nelson. (Thanks to the HayQueen, pictured on the right, for sharing.)

Nebraksa's congressional servants make themselves available to their constituents every week at a breakfast on Capitol Hill.  Each congressman speaks for a few minutes about what's on his mind or what he's working on that week.  Later there is a chance for Nebraskans to chat with their representatives.

Senator Johanns is very concerned about getting the country's financial house in order.  Here Merrill and John are listening to him, while other Nebraska congressmen maybe don't listen so closely.  They've heard it all before.

Representative Fortenberry homeschooled some of his children.  He didn't mention that to the gathered group, but it came out afterward.  He and Merrill chatted about the reasons a congressman might vote for a bill that contained something his constituents opposed.

Senator Nelson knows a lot about that.  We had a chance to say "how do?" to him at the aiport the day we flew into D.C.  "How do?" is one of the nicer things I think of to say to a senator whom I believe caved in to his party last year instead of representing his electorate on an important and expensive piece of legislation.

Because of the wisdom in the Constitution, Senator Nelson has the right to vote for what he thinks is best, or even what he thinks is best for him politically, whether or not that is best for Nebraskans.

Because of the wisdom in the Constitution, I am not left powerless if I disagree with him.  See you at the polls!