|
POSTED 1/2/08
Before Americans set out to change the world, they might want to do a little self-inspection to see if their own democracy is as healthy and functioning as they want it to be. Let’s first look at the way we, the voting public, are getting our information provided by the news media. It is ironic that U.S. taxpayers pay to beam news free into repressive regimes, but do not fund their own news efforts at home. Although there is no formal advertising on PBS, corporations may sponsor an entire program and receive on-air acknowledgement. PBS is probably less likely to air an expose of the huge subsidies going to large agribusiness, given that Archers Daniels Midland is one of its biggest sponsors. This problem might go away if proper levels of public funding for public television and radio could be attained. This lack of funding did not happen by mistake; this was a central element of the Republican congress’s Contract with America in 1994. The message was given to those in public television and radio loud and clear; maintain what the conservatives consider a liberal bias, further cuts may happen. When corporations interfere with our news media, they injure America’s fundamental democracy and its guarantees of individual freedom. It is hard to imagine how a co-opted media will give an undisrupted message to the voting public, if the media owners oppose it. I think a good example of the media owners working to appease the top 1% of the citizens is how the Dow Jones is measured by the media. It is measured only by investor’s wealth and not by workers well-being. Economic reporting dwarfed all other types of reporting, as if to say that if it doesn’t affect the Dow it must not be important and is not a problem. When was the last time we saw a national broadcasting network report on their national news about the inner city and its problems, the rural poor, the concerns of our institutionalized elderly, the state of the poor and dying in the developing world? It has to affect the average stock portfolio to be reported on. Americans are much more compassionate, generous, and sympathetic than the media exhibit. The media could acknowledge that the average American has issues that are of major importance to them, but are not being reported on by the corporate owners. This would be a starting point. Then these concerns that are being ignored, by the government representatives, could be addressed by those representing average Americans. Actions of this kind are not likely to happen because of the following fact. The representatives of government know this one fact and it impresses many and influences their voting records. That fact is this; the average American never contributes ONE DOLLAR to a political campaign and rarely, if ever goes to Washington to lobby his or her elected representatives. Therefore, if the average American wants to have a voice that will be heard by those elected to represent them, without donating or traveling to Washington, they must act at the voting both. If we the people become more active at the voting place and we work to elect representatives that will propose legislation to remove the special interest groups from Washington and the state capitals, we will then see a people’s agenda come forward. This people’s agenda should tackle the problems of the average working man and woman. These problems may not seem as major as famine and war, but to every citizen that has to work six or seven days a week to support their family and earn a living in America, their problems can be enormous and deserve the attention of their elected officials. What has gone wrong with democracy in America? Some would say, most of the problem can be traced to an unresponsive government to it’s people. As long as special interest control the elected representatives they will continue to control the government. This is a clear violation of the principle of one person/one vote that states each citizen ought to have equal access and say in the running of our government. Allowing special interests, special access, and undue influence violates this first rule of fairness. But there are more important consequences as well to allowing undue influence. If the elite and others continue to have undue influence on the government’s policies, we the working people must realize that, they will seek to achieve the following for their benefit. Lower corporate tax rates, elimination of the inheritance tax, reduction in the personal income taxes on the wealthy, weakened product liability protections for consumers, lower union participation, weaker workers rights in this country, loss of environmental protection for the environment, industrial globalization without any protect from unsafe products entering the United States, and lowering of wages or facing the outsourcing of jobs. If you and others become participating citizens in the voting process you can stop the elite from taking advantage of an elitist form of government, by electing representatives that want to bring your issues to the table and address them. Once this process begins you will see the vote you cast turn into money in your wallet. This will happen as the issues we the working citizens consider important are taken to the capital of our state and Washington. The policy changes will happen only when we the people stand and demand to have our voices heard on our issues. With this demand must come our votes. The changes that come back to us maybe small to start with. But as we continue to vote the candidates seeking our support will know that our issues are important and must be addressed to represent us. This over time will increase the value of our votes with actual money in the WALLET as our monetary issues are addressed. IN SUMMARY: VOTING IS A METHOD TO HELP YOU ADDRESS BUDGET ISSUES AT YOUR HOUSE. |
