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Expecting to find out how my congressman stood on the new Social Security proposals, I drove 40 minutes to Rep. Pat Tiberi's so-called "office hours" last week at the Jefferson Township Hall near Blacklick. Unfortunately, despite waiting for nearly two-and-a-half hours, I never got to even see Tiberi -- let alone hear him talk.

It seems that Tiberi, unlike most other politicians, doesn't participate in open forums where he speaks, we listen, and then there's a give-and-take with the audience where everybody expresses their views. Instead, the audience kills time in an assembly area, awaiting to be escorted one-by-one, or occasionally in small groups, back to an inner sanctum where Tiberi, like some ancient monarch, receives their petitions.

Some may prefer such a personal audience, and it certainly spares Tiberi from dealing with a possibly critical crowd, especially on a controversial issues such as Social Security "reform." But for voters, it means for hours long delays, little exposure to the Congressman's views and no chance to hear what our neighbors think.

It's about time Tiberi tells us where he stands on this issue. All he's said so far is that he favors some sort of private accounts while assuring the solvency of the Social Security 'trust fund. While I realize the Bush administration has yet to get specific about it's privatization plan, enough is known for Tiberi to make up some mind as to whether he's prepared to support tax increases or benefit cuts as opposed to trillions of dollars in additional federal borrowing.

In his online Capitol Notebook for Feb. 6, 2005, Tiberi states that Bush is "showing courage in taking an issue that many people either are not willing to address at this time, or wish to use against him for their own political purposes." Maybe it's time for Tiberi to show some courage as well, and tell us what he can -- and can't -- accept as part of a Social Security reform.

Meanwhile, if you go to any of Tiberi's future "office hours," better pack a lunch.

David Lore lives in Newark.

Comments

[Mary Lewin]

Dave,

Many thanks for attending the meeting with Tiberi. I am shocked that our elected representative would call the farce that occurred an "open forum."

My suggestion is that we coordinate a series of real open forums with Tiberi with the other central Ohio groups. This could be a "kick off" to the Licking County PAC, which by the way I would like to see us have a real name.