This post originally appeared on my blog, JTpolitik, but since it remains a relevant and pressing issue in this year's election and future elections, I felt it appropriate to re hash this. For other articles, check out- www.jtpolitik.blogspot.com
By John Amaruso
Does
anyone see what is going on here? The fundamentals of our very
democracy are eroding right in front of us. Slowly our basic human
rights- access to our government, political mobility, our very essential
right to vote is being taken away by the very forces that benefit off
the suppression of the common person.
Since Obama's election in 2008,
conservatives, Republicans, special interest groups and corporations
have done all they can in their power to assure another 'Washington
outsider' (aka individual minded person) can never have the power to
take away their power. Those who seek to exploit the many for the
benefit of a few are threatened by the very idea of the people electing
leaders who do not serve their interests.
This is all being done in independent, but by no means unrelated means.
For example, Governor Walker in
Wisconsin's attempts to effectively strip Unions of their collective
bargaining rights is an attempt to deconstruct the very fabric of the
working class, limiting their ability to make an affordable wage. In
turn leaving worker's helpless to decide their own economic fates
This has lowered the standard of
living for Union members and workers across the country. Once the wages
for Union workers are lowered, the market responds appropriately.
Private employers
no longer have to compete with the fair wages Unions offer, thereafter
they lower the wages of their own workers. This spiral down of wages
decreases the livelihoods of millions around the country.
This growing inequality in America
has been rising rapidly to the point where political cynicism runs
rampant. Due to this new economic form of enslavement, people feel
powerless to affect change even in their own workplace, let alone their
own government. It has disillusioned millions across the country, as
their will to vote has been undermined by their perceived inability to
compete with the economic powerhouses who currently control our system.
The necessity of economic power has become so essential in today's politics,
it is disturbing. A dollar is the new vote and the value of that vote has been steadily rising.
With the Citizens United decision,
unlimited and undisclosed campaign donations can be made by
corporations and even foreign entities. This in turn blurs out any
chance of a common person effecting change from their elected leader, as
now even the most well intentioned of officials have to compete with
this wave of cash
polluting the political arena and instead they ignore the needs of
their community. It's hard to see the masses over that large pile of
money on top of your desk.
We now live in a system where two
individuals, the Koch brothers, are legally allowed to donate over $400
million dollars to an election campaign. That's $400,000,000. That's
more money
than most of us could ever hope to see in our lives, yet is the price
these power hungry fat cats are willing to pay to silence our voices in
favor of theirs.
These two scenarios combined are a
vicious cycle. By lowering wages, workers have less to spend, meaning
less economic mobility, meaning less time, less resources. Less
purchasing power, less opportunity to compete with the wealthy who buy
off our politicians. By permitting the exorbitant expenditures by
corporations to politicians, we have effectively said "your vote is no
longer valid, please pay for your ballot here".
Meanwhile Voter ID restrictions are being passed in multiple states, disenfranchising lower income
families. The only legal way to vote in some of these states is to
present a valid driver's license. There are millions of people in this
country who do not drive, let alone can even afford to buy a license.
These potential voters are being suppressed, providing only more power
for the wealthy to pick and choose their candidates.
Overall this is an extremely
troubling phenomenon. This increasing trend of concentrating wealth to
the top, has in turn concentrated political power to the top. It is a
frightening day when a man like Sheldon Adelson, a virtually unknown
billionaire, is able to donate, by himself, $100 million dollars to a
candidate. It feels like we are living in the early 20th century
America, with Tammany Hall and the political machines that dominated
American politics.
It's come to a point where
President Obama, who had denied funding from corporations in his 2008
campaign for President, has resorted to despicable means just to simply
stay alive financially against his pro business opponent. President
Obama has attended more fundraisers this year alone than President Bush
did in his entire time in office.
Since the Democratic Party has
vowed to take the moral high ground and reject any private donations
from corporations, the party has been reduced to begging for donations
from the public. Even in such degrading and humiliating ways, like
having to ask couples who are getting married to instead of asking their
wedding guests for presents, re route that money as campaign donations
to Obama's re-election staff.
These factors have created a
perfect storm. A decrease in income for all, an increase in political
mobility for a few and restrictions in voting access for many has
diluted our democracy to a government of the people, by the people, and
for the people... who can afford it.
This election has very serious
consequences. It has underlying implications that can echo for
generations. It's a choice to decide what kind of country we are. The
choice between the powerful, the wealthy, the elite, and the choice
between the people, the workers and the common man.
This is what it has come down to.
We must decide that enough is enough and we have to let our voices be
heard, because if we don't our right to our voices will be taken away
forever. We must let those in power know that what they are doing is
wrong and that we can not accept it. A democracy is only as effective as
it's people demand it to be. And for that, I say we demand much more.
