Let’s keep it a stack: if you or anybody else in the neighborhood didn’t show up to work from March all the way to now, you wouldn't have a job, a paycheck, or a place to live. But out here in these political streets, the rules are apparently totally different. Representative Tom Kean of New Jersey has been completely missing in action from Washington since March, leaving his constituents out in the cold. Then, out of nowhere on Wednesday evening, the man finally shows up at his own front door in New Jersey, looking fresh in a full suit and tie like he’s got everything under control.

This is the ultimate double standard that regular, working-class folks are tired of seeing. People in our communities are out here working double shifts, catching buses, and struggling to pay rent under this crazy inflation, all while our elected officials can literally go ghost for months and still keep their positions. Kean answering his door in a suit and tie on Wednesday is a wild flex, especially when his seat in Washington has been empty during some of the most critical votes of the year.

When you look at the actual laws of the land, this isn't how the game is supposed to be played. Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution says Congress has the power to drag absent members back to work if they need to get a quorum. But instead of being held accountable, these politicians get to play by a whole different set of rules. The Congressional Research Service has tons of reports on how the House of Representatives is supposed to run, but none of those official guidelines seem to matter when a congressman decides to take a multi-month, unannounced vacation from his legislative duties.

Having a representative go missing for months means our communities have zero voice when the federal government is dividing up money for schools, housing, and healthcare. Over 700,000 people live in Kean's district, and for half the year, they’ve had exactly zero representation on the House floor. That means when big bills are being passed, nobody is looking out for the hood or making sure our families are getting the resources they actually need. It’s straight-up neglect, no cap.

The visual of him opening that door on Wednesday in a pristine suit and tie is crazy. It’s like he wanted to look the part of a busy public servant, even though he hasn’t been seen in the capital since the winter. Regular folks get fired for being ten minutes late to a shift at the warehouse, but a politician can disappear for five months and then act like everything is completely normal the second someone knocks on his door.