"Is This really America"?

Early Colonial leaders like (Adams, Jefferson, and Washington etc.) created a system of civic participation called “representational democracy”. They set up a system where by anyone that met minimum qualifications could run for an office. The people would then choose their representatives in free and open elections.  This would be an election system that was of the people, by the people, and for the people. This system was more or less the way things were done for 200+ years. Things began to change (and not for the better) a few decades back.  What we have now is a system that is NOT a true representational democracy.

Today there are two elections in every major election. The first election is conducted by the super wealthy, power brokers. They decide what two candidates are put before us and we get to choose which of those two we want. It’s like when you were a kid and you wanted peppermint ice cream but your mom said well you get to choose between chocolate and vanilla and you asked her why you couldn't have something else and she most likely told you it’s because I said so. So you either chose chocolate or vanilla that is unless you elected not to choose at all. That’s the metaphor for our election system today. CONSIDER this:  159 people in this country (the super wealthy) contributed 60% of the total money raised by the super PAC’s 159! Four hundred fifty people (including the 159) contributed 88 % of all the money raised and spent by Super PAC's in the last presidential race. 450 people determine who gets the money it takes to win any nomination.  It’s the super PAC(S) that determine which person will be on the ballot representing the Republicans and Democrats.  That’s why every Republican kisses Grover Norquist’s ass and why the Koch brothers have so much say so. That’s why a Rand Paul would never even come close to a ballot. That’s why if you want to run for president and you don’t want to kowtow to the super PAC wealthy (the 450) you can only do it by forming a third party. Both parties are run by super PAC(S). This is the secret election inside the election.

So the first corruption is the secret election inside the election.

 Why is the system so hopelessly grid-locked? Consider this: the one thing the super wealthy (159 or 450) demand of their nominee is a promise. Promise to pay back money? NO Promise of a cushy government job? Maybe they would want some job for some of their friends but not for them. NO the one promise that must be given is: You must never try to change the system. The super wealthy want things to stay the same. Staying the same means they get more money and power. How many senators, congressmen/women, and Presidents owe these people big time? All of them?! Politicians want to get reelected and to do that you need the super wealthy, powerful people and so you play ball.  How many times have you heard someone say, things need to change in Washington?  Well, forget it. They are not going to change with the way things are structured now. The days of Jimmy Stewart as Mr. Smith going to Washington are over.

The second corruption is that you are not allowed to serve in office following your own convictions and beliefs.

Then there is the wall of silence. No politician is allowed to talk about these things. You are allowed to get huffy and puffy, cry and shout but not one past or present politician will tell the American people how it all really  works. Even when you leave office you are expected to stay quiet for the most part..   Ever wonder why when politicians are voted out they never do lengthy exposes on what really happens in the halls, closets, and dark back rooms. There are no detailed tell all books of secret deals, pay offs and of the careers that were made and destroyed. If you don’t want the wrath of the super 450 all over you and some say it is worse than the wrath of God, then you keep your mouth shut. So the truth is rarely spoken while in office and its hush, hush out of office. Remember the Congressman that lost his cool and shouted at the President, “You lie” during the President’s first State of the Union. Well, he broke the rules. He was censured and you never heard a peep from him again. Hell, Teddy Roosevelt was shot making a campaign speech, and plenty of Presidents have been taken to task over the years but it’s a new game today. You play by the rules or you don’t play at all.

So the third corruption is the wall of silence about the first two corruptions.

Consider this: why in the world would Washington politicians who have the lowest citizen approval rating ever in the history of congress (6%) risk further public condemnation by allowing the fiscal cliff to be approached? Why would they allow the unthinkable sequestration to take place? It is because these are politicians that are “beholden” to the people that put them in office. People that don’t want the system to change.  People that like things the way they are. And a politician in office would rather suffer the anger of their constituents than the anger of the super 450 they owe their careers to. Besides they have a built in excuse and that is, “it’s the other side that is creating the log jam”.  They get to self-righteously vilify the other party, claim they are the victim, profess their concern for the working classes,  kiss another member of the super 450’s ass and then go on to spend 65% of their time in office (documented) working on their next reelection. Perfect!

Honestly, ask yourself this question: if all the senators and congressmen were NOT beholden to anyone ( I mean to anyone) and could (never again) hold office after the term they are currently in is up, do you think they could make some meaningful progress towards  budget, guns, environment, and health care reform? They are smart people and they could get things done, if they were actually allowed to.

The founding fathers would not recognize the political system we have today. They would quickly and easily see that it is not the “representational democracy” they so carefully crafted and put in place. They would wonder if this is really America at all.