Why is my Government "of the people and for the people" broken?
The more and more I watch and listen to (what used to be) this great country of ours, the more it becomes apparent that we are letting our own rights and freedoms be sucked away. Inch by inch we are pulled into a socialist state. Our freedoms will not go out with a bang, but rather a whimper.
Bill after bill is passed on capital hill. When was the last time you or your representatives read all 800 pages of a bill up for vote? These bills are laden with sub sections and diverts and redirects. Special interest groups lobby YOUR elected representatives to vote yes on the "name brand" of the bill. They sell them the perks and "up shot" of the main bill. The thing that escapes most Americans is that, every single one of these special interest groups has a "sub bill" hidden in there somewhere. These sub bills, frequently, wind up circumventing the "name brand" bill and provide extra incentives and leeway towards the special interest groups that lobbied for the main bill to pass.
For those of you that don't know, Lobbying (also Lobby) is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government by individuals, other legislators or government actors, constituents, or advocacy groups. A lobbyist is a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest or a member of a lobby. Governments often define and regulate organized group lobbying that has become influential.
If you think, for one god damn minute, that your elected official hasn't been "influenced" by one of these individuals, you need to have your head examined.
Well, it's the fault of the Democrats/Republicans. If we could just change the governing party ... "
Let me be clear on this. BUUUULLLLLLSHIIIIIITT! If you think that there is any REAL and I mean ABSOLUTE fundamental difference between the two parties that keep butt fucking this country into a ball gagged submissive position, you need to be committed. And then, maybe lobotomized. Because that's about all the value your thoughts have brought to our government thus far.
Is our country fucked? Yes. Did we do it to ourselves? Yes. Can we fix it. NO and YES. We just have to collectively WANT to. You see, there is a fundamental strength in our government that is also its' biggest flaw.
We do NOT live in a Democracy. We live in a mixed bag of socialist and democratic bullshit. You see, every two years, we "democratically" elect our socialist party. Every vote counts ... yes, and no. Your vote every four years; that ONE time you feel strongly about or against some presidential candidate, that you decide to haul your lazy ass off the sofa, away from your ez-mac and funyuns is not the time to make a difference. It's every time you vote for a mayor or governor. Yes, every TWO years. (I know I know, shocking that you have to actually participate in your government if you want it to work properly.) You see, these are the fuck wads that wind up casting your vote FOR you during the presidential election. Ever wonder how GW got two terms? Because the idiots that did vote between presidential elections, elected even bigger idiots.
The Electoral Collage my learned friends. The biggest sham our government has played on us up until the "Patriot Act". You see, every state has a number of "Electoral Votes". These votes are cast by your ELECTED officials. They can vote however they see fit. If that means going against the public vote, they can (and have, several times) vote for whichever candidate they think will make their lives easier. The only way to actually stop this circle of insanity is to get to know your elected local (yes local, who do you think will run for state office in a few years?) and state officials. Decide for yourself if they have your best interests in mind. Then, cast that vote and pray to whatever gods you consider holy, that they didn't just lube you heavier than a gang bang queen on the set of her next world record.
So I'm fucked? We're all fucked?
Ah! Now there's the rub. For now ... yes. We're the pooch. But the beauty of our government is that it CAN and, gods willing, WILL be taken back. We just HAVE to be engaged. That's the only way to fix this country. That's also the beauty of this country. We broke it, we can fix it. It will take time, and it will take patience. But if everyone opens their eyes to what is REALLY going on in this country and can step back for "party" views, we can find the right balance.
So go forth, young and old. Learned and learning. Engage your countries political landscape. Learn what is and isn't in a candidates bag of tricks. Vote for the people that you WANT to vote FOR you. Lets get back to being the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave" and look back on the days of "Land of the TSA frisking and in home wire tapping" with amusement and say "We have come a long way baby".
I love this country. Lets keep it that way.
The more and more I watch and listen to (what used to be) this great country of ours, the more it becomes apparent that we are letting our own rights and freedoms be sucked away. Inch by inch we are pulled into a socialist state. Our freedoms will not go out with a bang, but rather a whimper.
Bill after bill is passed on capital hill. When was the last time you or your representatives read all 800 pages of a bill up for vote? These bills are laden with sub sections and diverts and redirects. Special interest groups lobby YOUR elected representatives to vote yes on the "name brand" of the bill. They sell them the perks and "up shot" of the main bill. The thing that escapes most Americans is that, every single one of these special interest groups has a "sub bill" hidden in there somewhere. These sub bills, frequently, wind up circumventing the "name brand" bill and provide extra incentives and leeway towards the special interest groups that lobbied for the main bill to pass.
For those of you that don't know, Lobbying (also Lobby) is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government by individuals, other legislators or government actors, constituents, or advocacy groups. A lobbyist is a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest or a member of a lobby. Governments often define and regulate organized group lobbying that has become influential.
If you think, for one god damn minute, that your elected official hasn't been "influenced" by one of these individuals, you need to have your head examined.
Well, it's the fault of the Democrats/Republicans. If we could just change the governing party ... "
Let me be clear on this. BUUUULLLLLLSHIIIIIITT! If you think that there is any REAL and I mean ABSOLUTE fundamental difference between the two parties that keep butt fucking this country into a ball gagged submissive position, you need to be committed. And then, maybe lobotomized. Because that's about all the value your thoughts have brought to our government thus far.
Is our country fucked? Yes. Did we do it to ourselves? Yes. Can we fix it. NO and YES. We just have to collectively WANT to. You see, there is a fundamental strength in our government that is also its' biggest flaw.
We do NOT live in a Democracy. We live in a mixed bag of socialist and democratic bullshit. You see, every two years, we "democratically" elect our socialist party. Every vote counts ... yes, and no. Your vote every four years; that ONE time you feel strongly about or against some presidential candidate, that you decide to haul your lazy ass off the sofa, away from your ez-mac and funyuns is not the time to make a difference. It's every time you vote for a mayor or governor. Yes, every TWO years. (I know I know, shocking that you have to actually participate in your government if you want it to work properly.) You see, these are the fuck wads that wind up casting your vote FOR you during the presidential election. Ever wonder how GW got two terms? Because the idiots that did vote between presidential elections, elected even bigger idiots.
The Electoral Collage my learned friends. The biggest sham our government has played on us up until the "Patriot Act". You see, every state has a number of "Electoral Votes". These votes are cast by your ELECTED officials. They can vote however they see fit. If that means going against the public vote, they can (and have, several times) vote for whichever candidate they think will make their lives easier. The only way to actually stop this circle of insanity is to get to know your elected local (yes local, who do you think will run for state office in a few years?) and state officials. Decide for yourself if they have your best interests in mind. Then, cast that vote and pray to whatever gods you consider holy, that they didn't just lube you heavier than a gang bang queen on the set of her next world record.
So I'm fucked? We're all fucked?
Ah! Now there's the rub. For now ... yes. We're the pooch. But the beauty of our government is that it CAN and, gods willing, WILL be taken back. We just HAVE to be engaged. That's the only way to fix this country. That's also the beauty of this country. We broke it, we can fix it. It will take time, and it will take patience. But if everyone opens their eyes to what is REALLY going on in this country and can step back for "party" views, we can find the right balance.
So go forth, young and old. Learned and learning. Engage your countries political landscape. Learn what is and isn't in a candidates bag of tricks. Vote for the people that you WANT to vote FOR you. Lets get back to being the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave" and look back on the days of "Land of the TSA frisking and in home wire tapping" with amusement and say "We have come a long way baby".
I love this country. Lets keep it that way.
