Making good sausage requires oversight — you can help

Awell-known saying is: “Laws are like sausages, better not to see them being made.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Right now, during our 60-day legislative session, laws that will change our lives are being introduced, debated, passed or failed. Here’s the great part: You can have a say in this process. You don’t have to be a lawyer. What’s more, we have a homegrown asset that will get you started as a citizen advocate.

Retake Our Democracy is a volunteer organization, founded by Santa Fe residents Paul Gibson and Roxanne Barber. In just over two years, Retake has helped to elect progressive state officials and is targeting 20-25 bills that will get New Mexico moving again after eight years of stagnation.

At the core of this program is the recruitment and training of advocates. All that’s required is a small investment of time — an investment that can have a very satisfying payoff when solid, progressive laws are passed during the next two months.

Retake has created a system that makes it easy to be informed and active. You don’t have to devote your life to the process, just a few minutes each day to review the email alert that comes whenever one of their 20-plus must-pass bills is being voted on in committee or on the Senate or House floor.

The alerts include a bill summary in understandable terms, speaking points about why the bill would benefit New Mexicans, and the time and date of the hearing or vote. It also includes contact info for the legislators voting on the bill. If you can’t physically come to the Roundhouse, you can send an email, make a call and participate in democracy.

Not incidentally, two Santa Feans are Speaker of the House Brian Egolf and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth. They have publicly invited all New Mexicans to come to the Roundhouse to participate in person. If you’re able to, I can testify that time spent in our beautiful state Capitol is a fascinating experience. The sausage making is both instructive and exhilarating. Vegetarians and carnivores are equally welcome.

Marches, rallies, internet petitions and letters to the editor all have their place. The grotesque circus in far-off Washington can make one feel powerless, exasperated or angry. The antidote is right here in our backyard. It’s easier than you think. Just take that first step. Go to RetakeResponseNetwork.org and join. It takes a minute, but you will feel greatly empowered by using this effective way to participate in our democratic process.

Robert Baroody is a citizen advocate who has lived in Santa Fe for over 25 years.