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Thursday, March 27, 2014

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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