 codependence and your vote webster s dictionary defines codependence as a psychological condition or relationship in which someone is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition or addiction as you look at the definition of codependence isn t it ironic that it appears to be a good descriptor of the relationship between our country s elected officials and their constituents in so many ways we as a people have become addicted to what the government doles out to us we are addicted to all of the perks our elected officials can obtain for us they come in the form of earmarks special projects and grants that our elected officials have bargained for by selling their votes if not their souls even though the approval ratings for the people in congress is abysmal at around 13 they continue to get reelected by their constituents because they provide their home districts with the perks of congressional seniority the longer you serve the more perks you get and if you are in the majority party you can get even more we are hooked on the perks and our elected representatives are hooked on our votes the relationship has devolved into something that feeds on its own selfish desires as responsible voters we need to step back and reevaluate our relationship with our elected officials and decide if the people in lansing and washington are really representing us and our best interests if we want accountability from the people who are there to serve us it must be based on their merit not the deals they can make to get us special projects it needs to be because they represent our core values it needs to be because they are fiscally responsible it needs to be because they will uphold the constitution this fall look at the people who are running for office and place your vote based on your principles not on what perks your elected representative can bring to you and your district break the codependence cycle submitted for publication to the owosso independent the st johns dewitt informer the laingsburg independent the perry independent on june 1 2010 published in the  