Whose Business Is It?
Arguably,
it is our nation’s misfortune that we have only two political parties. Some
very intelligent and well educated, and well meaning people would argue
differently; but, what is an electorate to do when neither party reflects the
will of the people? It seems, in these times, that many of us find ourselves
voting against one faction or the other rather than for, or in favor of.
Let’s
say those words: On the one hand, we have the Democrats; and, on the other, the
Republicans. Behind the scenes, dictating the actions of both, we have our
Shadow Government, a government of the rich and powerful, by the rich and
powerful, and for the rich and powerful, figuratively the one percent, if you
will (if you don’t see that, you haven’t been keeping up with what’s going on–you
aren’t looking). You may vote Republican; you may vote Democrat; but, when the
results are in, it’s the Shadow Government that you get. Is this true? You bet
it is. What you see is what you get.
Over
the years, we have come to think of the Democratic Party as the party of the
people, the Republican Party as the party of big business and the rich. Our
ostensible democracy and free elections notwithstanding, the Republicans have
won (the rich, powerful, and elite).
Think not? How
about this? In his book, Freefall,
Dr. Joseph Stiglitz, one of the most influential economists in the world,
discusses the transition into office of President Obama after his election in
2008, following, arguably, in my opinion (Not Dr. Stiglitz’s), one of the most
inept and destructive presidential administrations in our nation’s history.
Dr. Stiglitz
says: “When the new president took office, there was a collective sigh of
relief. At last something would be
done. ….Ultimately, Obama’s team opted for a conservative strategy, one that I describe as ‘muddling through’.”
I’m not going to copy Dr. Stiglitz’s book here as you can read it for yourself;
but, continuing from my own recollections, President Obama carried right on
with the NSA, the National Security Agency, and spying on our people; he bailed
out the financial sector (Which he should have done) without any prosecution of
the guilty, increasing of regulations (bringing back the Glass Steagall Act–as
one example); he didn’t insist that the bailout money be used for lending or
mortgage relief, allowing the banks to put the funds (your taxpayer dollars) in
reserve as well as the payout of huge bonuses and salaries to the executives
who got us in this position in the first place. Essentially, he just picked up
where Bush left off. Another important action on which I will comment is the
ACA, the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. I know the president had to make
compromises for his healthcare program, but I consider his plan as a sellout to
the insurance and pharmaceutical companies, a corporatocracy if there ever was
one. The people lost again. I don’t care what they say. You’ll see, the ACA will die
of its own weight. In the meantime, the Corporatocracy and
Power Elite, our Shadow Government, has won again.
Whose
business is it? I think it is the people’s business. From my point of view, the
people didn’t have a say in it. But, one might say, the people voted. Yes, they
did; but they didn’t vote to be spied upon; they didn’t vote to be raped by the
bankers; and they certainly didn’t vote for Jamie Diamond’s raise and the
salary and bonus increases of the others which came out of our pockets.
Neither, really, did they vote for the Affordable Care Act as it is unfolding.
My point here is that the will of the people is not being recognized. My
understanding of the Constitution and government is that our elected
representatives are supposed to represent the people’s interests–all the people,
not just theirs, or the one percent. It seems the people can’t even get a hearing anymore, let
alone representation.
Mr.
Norquist (Who elected him?) wants a government so small he can squeeze it into
his bathtub. Well, Mr. Norquist, the people don’t want a government that small–such
is not in their interests. The people want a government as large, or as small,
as they need; and, who are you to tell them different? I’ll tell you right now,
with all our many problems, the government they want (and need) is pretty big. Our
nation is in deep doo, and the people you represent got us there. The people want a government that represents the whole
100% of us–not just the 1%. The people want their government financed by a tax
system that is based upon the principle of one’s ability to pay–all 100% of us.
The people want a government that is honest, above board, and with integrity–a
government that is transparent and believable.
Am
I right? Do I know what I’m talking about? Let’s find out. Let’s have a
national referendum. I say the governance of our country is the business of the
people; that is if we are the democratic republic we claim to be, and as is outlined
in our Constitution. Our representatives are supposed to represent us, we the
people–not just the corporatocracy and power elite. Do we want a government
sufficient to meet the needs of the people? Is national security supposed to be
the only function of government? Should the social needs of our people, i.e.
our quality of living, educational needs, prosperity, social security,
universal national healthcare, etc, in effect the very quality of our nation, be
a responsibility of government? Should we be just another entity of world
government, or should we maintain our national sovereignty, free and
independent, with liberty and justice for all? Let us have that referendum. Let
us determine what the people want. What false god gave anyone else the right to
decide? In doing so, by the way,
let us not word that referendum in such a way as to put words in the voters’
mouths as is done in the many political surveys in order to distort the
results.
Let’s
do it.
Ronald Miller
mtss86@comcast.net
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