The Green Disease

We Americans are constantly being reminded by the media and our politicians about how terrible things are in this country. In 2008, Obama ran on a ticket of Hope and Change, successfully using the economic troubles of the Bush Administration to convince the voting populace that his administration would be able to turn things around. In the present Presidential contest, Mitt Romney's campaign is pushing it's own "Hope and Change" message, promising that their agenda will usher in a new era of prosperity and economic recovery. What these two self-serving politicians aren't telling you is that the goal is not to change a thing, but to MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. Have you ever wondered why the fringe issue of abortion always gets bantered around by politicians seeking election, but never is acted upon? Why change things? If Roe vs. Wade was overturned, Republicans couldn't run on a ticket of opposing abortion anymore. They would effectively lose that bargaining chip. It's not about enacting laws that actually change the country, but maintaining the illusion that they care about these issue.

In reality, most politicians do not give two cents what the voting public wants. They are beholden to corporate powers, unions, lobbyists and special interests. 

Bob Dole once said it best, "The poor don't make campaign contributions." 

He is right. 80% of campaign financing comes from large donors, such as corporations, the wealthy, PACs and unions. Independent donations, those made by people like you and I, account for less than 10% of campaign funding. Most Americans don't want to participate in the political process, much less donate what little money they have to some dubious political hack. We've grown cynical of the entire horse and pony show. After all, it never changes. Every cycle it's the same partisan garbage. We're told we are being given a choice, but in reality, the choice is simply two sides to the same corrupt coin. 

To compound matters, the rise of the SuperPac has done damage to an already crumbling political system. When our Founding Fathers wrote the first amendment in 1791, I have a very hard time believing that money equaled speech. But that's what it is under Citizen's United. Freedom of speech is guaranteed to these massive special interest groups, effectively drowning out the voice of the average Joe. These SuperPacs are free to say whatever they want, even if it's factually questionable, because they maintain the illusion that they are not in any way affiliated with the political campaign who's values they support. Our politicians, our way of life, our future, is being hijacked by the influence of these special interest groups. It's hard to see how we have a voice when it is being drowned out by special interest bullhorns.

So what do we do to fix this? Have we passed the point where our political system, and our selected leaders are simply too infected by The Green Disease? Is there no turning this around? Why not term-limits? Why not a ban on soft-money? Why not simply have publicly funded elections with an equal playing field for ALL candidates? Why not a ban on lobbyists? When will the American people wake up, throw their collective heads out the window and scream, "WE'RE MAD AS HELL, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Maybe then, we wouldn't need a bullhorn.