Joshua ’26, gives back to his community by working at a representative’s office in the MA statehouse.
The United States adores their accolade of a “great democracy.” When the founders wrote of our rights of, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” they believed as though they laid the groundwork for a great nation to be. Yet before our eyes, this nation is consumed by the raging flames of political polarization— lives taken, liberty under distress, and happiness diminished. But from within these flames stands a beacon of hope— a spec of blue in a sea of red: Massachusetts.
Since its founding Massachusetts has led the rest of the country in progressive reform. When we threw tea into the harbor, a revolution started. When we passed the affordable care act, The Obama administration pushed Obamacare.
This summer, I worked at a representative’s office in the MA statehouse, on Beacon hill. As this session comes to an end, the state house has become a scramble of different actors all trying to pass their legislation before the session ends, while formal sessions can still be held (before July 31st). Beyond pushing legislation, people in the state house also must communicate with their constituents to the best of their ability– ensuring that the needs of the people are of paramount importance– this has been my job.
For anyone who has ever emailed a Representative, they would know that offices always send an email back, that email often follows the formula of “thank you, here is some information, thanks again.” These emails back to constituents are the embodiment of what democracy attempts to be– it attempts to hear every voice and amplify it for legitimate change in a community. Through democracy, they hope to give what the founders wanted: “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Though we are far from achieving perfection (perhaps not even in the ballpark), the more we work the closer we get, and this has been my job this summer.
