One Democrat who made some good difference during a difficult time
Democracy has always been under duress from powerful interests tying to dominate U.S. politics, but the system is now at the breaking point. The Citizens United decision of the U.S. Supreme Court has opened up the campaign season to a flood of corporate money—corporations now have the rights of individual citizens, to use their money as their free speech. And the concerted actions of a corporate-funded national think tank, the American Legislative Exchange Council, ALEC, has sent laws restricting the right to vote, through the legislatures of crucial states, that will further turn the tide towards their brand of conservative candidates in the coming national elections. A powerful private foundation writes and provides laws to our state lawmakers.
Also included in ALEC’s packaged portfolio are laws that push emergency financial managers on local governments, mandate changing their contractual obligations to teachers and public service employees, and shift tax burdens from corporations to regular citizens. [See the links for some of this story below].
t’s not about the will of the people, but about bending the people’s will to do the plutonomy’s* bidding. Plutocrats can now enlist their corporations as mega-persons. Giant vote-mastering media machines, that now keep our politics, the exclusive game of the super rich. Our politicians are now, more than ever, chosen on country club golf greens and in corporate board rooms. Persons truly representing the poor and middle class need not apply.
There’s too much money involved for we-the-people’s voice to be heard. But call on each other we must -- to be faithful to the value of real freedom, inclusive not exclusive. Occupy Wall Street, and communities of faith, have begun to sound the trumpet as we enter the cold but holy season. May we cast off the selfish machinations of Scrooge, from the towers of financial wizards to the bedrock neighborhoods of common folk. True democracy, and our faith, demands a place for everyone at the table.
I have voted for many different party candidates since my first franchise exercise in 1968. Also I’ve created my own write-in candidates when those offered were inadequate {most all of them}, and felt best about voting for competent intelligent Bill Moyers-- journalist, egalitarian, ecumenical Texas Baptist preacher. The people should be able to raise up candidates for these national offices from amongst themselves, and then get a real look at what they stand for, instead of how they spin. More on this method next week.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/politics/22scotus.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/opinion/27wed1.html?_r=1
ALEC’s website: http://www.alec.org/about-alec/history/
* "plutonomy" – origin in paper by Citigroup Bank in 2006, explanation found in this review, http://rwer.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/the-plutonomy-symposium-citigroup/ but I haven’t accessed the paper itself—though this is an apparent transcription of part 1 http://www.salem-news.com/articles/november132011/plutonomy1_dj.php
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mt 19:21-22
Illumination by Kathy Brahney
No comments:
Post a Comment