Yelling At A Senator

It's not everyday you get to yell at a Senator. And two Congressional representatives. But yesterday I did.

I got notification yesterday morning that there was a "day of action" to protest the Trump administration's and the Republican congress's attempts to dismantle the Social Security system. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressional Representatives John Larson and Rosa DeLauro were in attendance.

I arrived at the Social Security offices in Middletown Connecticut and found a small gathering of about 25 people. Later I realized that most of the people were staffers for the congressional representatives, union representatives and a few seniors who arrived with handmade signs.

Turns out it was less a "day of action," and more a photo op for a proposed bill, sponsored by Larson, to change the proposed 100% claw back of overpayments for Social Security to the 10% it stood at previously. Larson admitted that the bill would take months to move through Congress. Passage, of course is questionable in a Republican-controlled Congress.

All three of the representatives spoke briefly, denigrating the attempts by Doge and Musk and Trump to wreak havoc on the Social Security system.

At one point, as Larson spoke, an old gentleman, walking slowly along a nearby sidewalk, looked at the gathering and yelled "Assholes." There was a pause as the group considered his assessment. Larson continued to speak. The gentleman, carrying a shopping bag that appeared heavily-laden with food and supplies, yelled again, "Rich assholes." Larson, who happened to be talking about Trump at the moment made a joke. "Yeah, that's what I think about Trump, too." He continued speaking. The man, a bit further down the sidewalk made one final shout. "Assholes," he said. "They don't care about you." Nervous laughter from those gathered around the podium.

As Larson ended his comments, he asked if there were any questions. I raised my hand and said, "I have a question."

I introduced myself and explained that the public was scared and angry, just like that old many hauling groceries down the street. That man was already suffering, and we shouldn't be laughing at him. We should be trying to find a way to help him.

I told the elected officials that we are desperate to have our representatives demonstrate that same fear and anger that we're feeling. That we expect our elected representatives, our Democratic representatives, to do everything in their power to derail the attempt by Trump and republicans to destroy our freedom and justice. Even if it meant abandoning decorum, and bending rules.

I got louder and more passionate as I spoke.

I told Larson that a few weeks ago when he was so angry that he railed in a committee meeting about the hypocrisy of his Republican colleagues, and had a social media viral moment with his video clip, that his anger had bolstered the will of those he represented to fight along with him.

"I can't be angry every day," Larson responded.

"I'll take once a week," I said.

What followed was another lecture, by all three representatives about being at a political disadvantage as a minority in Congress, and in a government where the presidency and the Supreme Court also seem aligned to drag us backwards. I understand that. I was told that we live in a country governed by the "rule of law," and that the only real change can come from elections.

Elections? You mean the midterm elections two years from now? It's taken Trump and his minions two months to dismantle the federal bureaucracy. What's gonna be left in two years?

Blumenthal attempted to assure us that the tariffs were having a negative effect on Trump's cruel campaign of terror.

"Even my Republican colleagues say it in private, though they're afraid to say it in public," Blumenthal said.

Name them, Senator. We are in the throes of dictatorship.

And when Blumenthal began to talk about how we couldn't resort to the kind of rule breaking practiced by Republican because, as Democrats, we had respect for the rule of law, I rolled my eyes. He saw it, and said that he recognized my skepticism considering the circumstances.

They closed their remarks after some questions from the one reporter in attendance (from WSHU), and Rosa DeLauro came right up to me and told me she was hearing the same kind of anxiety everywhere she went, and that we had to organize, demonstrate and make our voices heard.

I respect the work that these elected officials have done, but what I really want is for them to be in Washington, fighting everyday with the passion of AOC, Bernie Sanders, Jasmine Crockett, Jamie Raskin, Cory Booker, Jim McGovern and Melanie Stansbury. I want them to make the kind of noise that inspires me to organize, march and make my own noise.

And that's why I think David Hogg's challenge to old-school Democrats is so important.

If you want us to fight. Show us your fight. If you want us to practice civil disobedience, break a few rules in the halls of Congress.

Yes, we need to stand together as Democrats and progressives. But, we're not at "normal" anymore. We've been abandoned by the institutions we thought would hold strong against oligarchy and autocracy. We need to find a new path, and staging a photo op just won't cut it anymore.