The Republic is lost. I believe it started with the 17th amendment. Before then elected state officials selected the senators to represent the state in Washington. This provided a checks and balances between the federal government and the state government. With the 17th amendment the people selected three representative to congress instead of one. To me this is where we as a nation shifted toward a democracy.
During the Great Depression the government tried to satisfy its people with the welfare system. More and more complained and more and more received this welfare. When the industrial boom after WWII began to cool off the government tried to satisfy businesses through tax breaks. These tax breaks became corporate welfare.
The government also began nation building after WWII in Germany and Japan. This is now commonplace. Our military now acts as World Police instead of protectors of the United States of America.
Today I struggle to recognize the government set forth by the constitution. It was set up to be a republic. But the Republic no longer exists. Democracy no longer exists. What exists is a government controlled by money. Lobbyists control the votes in congress. The president goes unchecked, and the Supreme Court seems to be almost irrelevant except in cases such as eminent domain.
In a country where only 54% vote during a presidential election and about 40% in midterm elections, it is no wonder our government does what it wants. And mass media does its damnedest to select the presidential nominees and most other elected officials.
I don't know of a sure solution, but I believe the only way things can change is through the people discussing their opinions. Not to get into arguments and scare people away or cause them to shut down, but to learn where we agree and where we can stand together to make changes.
During the Great Depression the government tried to satisfy its people with the welfare system. More and more complained and more and more received this welfare. When the industrial boom after WWII began to cool off the government tried to satisfy businesses through tax breaks. These tax breaks became corporate welfare.
The government also began nation building after WWII in Germany and Japan. This is now commonplace. Our military now acts as World Police instead of protectors of the United States of America.
Today I struggle to recognize the government set forth by the constitution. It was set up to be a republic. But the Republic no longer exists. Democracy no longer exists. What exists is a government controlled by money. Lobbyists control the votes in congress. The president goes unchecked, and the Supreme Court seems to be almost irrelevant except in cases such as eminent domain.
In a country where only 54% vote during a presidential election and about 40% in midterm elections, it is no wonder our government does what it wants. And mass media does its damnedest to select the presidential nominees and most other elected officials.
I don't know of a sure solution, but I believe the only way things can change is through the people discussing their opinions. Not to get into arguments and scare people away or cause them to shut down, but to learn where we agree and where we can stand together to make changes.
No comments:
Post a Comment