Bishop, Altschuler & The Virtues Of A Representative Republic

New York’s 1st congressional district, which includes the majority of Smithtown, has become a topic of national debate with respect to the upcoming elections. This large swath of land, encompassing Eastern Long Island, is presently being recognized as a bellwether district with regard to suburban America. Incumbent Democrat Timothy Bishop of Southampton will be running against successful businessman Randy Altschuler of St. James in what will surely be a hotly contested election. For Suffolk County’s electorate to properly discern the candidate who will best represent its interests, three primary questions must be answered. 1) What is the role of a United States Congressman? 2) What kind of character and what general intention is representative of each candidate? 3) What political ideology do the respective candidates adhere to and what is their philosophical bent? These questions, once answered, should provide the public with a clear distinction between the candidates and supply the knowledge that is necessary to make an informed decision.

The House of Representatives, as established by the United States Constitution, was considered to be the nucleus of the nascent federal government. This body of lawmakers was intended to act as the American people’s direct link to their government. It is this branch of Congress that was to separate America from the failed democracies of antiquity, thus creating a new form of government, commonly referred to as a “representative republic”. Congressional representatives, elected by the people, were to vote on federal legislation on behalf of the region from which they came. Following the Civil War (1860 – 1865) and the subsequent cohesion of the federal union, the interests of the nation as a whole often proved equal to the sum of its parts. Notwithstanding this interrelation, a Congressman’s primary job was, and still remains, that of voting for the interests of his region.

With regard to the issue of character, Congressman Bishop recently wrote the following in an open letter to his supporters: “I ran for Congress because I care about this community.” I am prone to believe the Congressman due to the recognition that Mr. Bishop is a good and honorable man who casts his votes in Congress according to the dictates of his conscience. Randy Altschuler, who I have met and conversed with on several occasions, is also a good and honorable man who would likewise vote on federal legislation based on his principles and his conscience. I believe that Messrs. Altschuler and Bishop, both well liked and respected men, are equally sincere in their patriotism.

Thus having determined the role of an American Congressman, and having established the sincerity and well-intentioned motives of the candidates, the final stage of scrutiny, with regard to choosing a representative, involves a careful inspection of the candidates’ respective ideologies. In the case of Congressman Bishop, we shall examine his voting record; with respect to Randy Altschuler, as he is new to the political arena, we shall compare his campaign platform to that of Mr. Bishop’s and contrast their principles accordingly.

Because of Timothy Bishop’s voting record, and because we have fairly established that the Congressman votes according to his conscience, we may rightfully infer that Mr. Bishop’s political principles and ideological bent are in direct accord with those of President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Over the course of the past two years, Congressman Bishop has voted in favor of Obama-Care, of cap-and-trade, of all of the President’s spending and “stimulus” initiatives, of the financial “reform” act and of raising the ceiling on America’s national debt. If people are happy with President Obama and with the quality of our present Congress, they will naturally vote to re-elect Timothy Bishop. However, for those malcontent with the social, political and economic shift that America is currently experiencing, a further examination of Mr. Altschuler’s proposed agenda is highly recommended.

Whereas Congressman Bishop apparently believes that government spending and social programs are the necessary tools for fixing our economy, Mr. Altschuler, in contrast, is inclined to consider less federal spending and across the board tax cuts as the path to fiscal redemption. Whereas Mr. Bishop’s inclinations are those of increased government regulation, effectively restructuring our society, Mr. Altschuler believes that less government control and more individual liberty are the roots of American exceptionalism.

On a personal note, I will readily admit that, during his tenure, Congressman Bishop has proven adept at securing federal funds for Suffolk County. That being said, I do not believe that lobbying for money is the proper role of a Congressman. This money, once acquired, must be taken from somewhere else, be it via tax increases, borrowing from foreign nations or passing the buck to future generations. The federal government presently owns what was once a thriving private economy. Our nation’s hope for returning to those former days of prosperity lies in fostering the ingenuity of the people and in giving back the power to the industrious American populace. Tax increases, further debt and more government interference are likely to produce the opposite result. It is this view of government that offers the most striking contrast between these two congressional candidates.

If one is happy with the direction of the country and with the performance of the current Congress, then Tim Bishop is the person to vote for on Election Day. However, if one believes, as I do, that it is up to the people to take back control and to restore the proper balance between government and individual liberty, Randy Altschuler should be the choice for Congress. What is most imperative in this crucial election season is that each and every voting American carefully scrutinizes the candidates who are running for office. For in a representative republic, the innate power of a well informed electorate, and the impact it can have on our nation, should never be underestimated.