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For the past fifteen years, myself and my fellow "wacko" leftists have been screaming about the perils, and reality, of the two party/same corporate master system of government that we currently live under. We have had our fears and facts dismissed and labeled as "extremist", "crazy", "delusional" and worse. And yet here we are, with the Democrats backing such fine Republican power grabs as the Patriot Act, Real ID, the Iraq war, and an ever increasing flood of legislation designed to makeover this country as a police state, and the citizens as serfs.
Can you hear me now?
I logged on this morning to find a flood of posts lamenting the passage of the Real ID, posters who are shocked and disheartened at this latest betrayal by our so called leaders, and are wondering how we came to this pass. And while I too am disgusted at this latest blow, I can't say that I'm surprised. While many people here and elsewhere have gone deeper into a state of denial over the past few years, it seems that finally people are waking up and realize what is really happening in our country, that we've have had the good cop/bad cop shuck and jive played on us for a long while, and we have been played like a fiddle. Now these newly awakened, newly outraged people are wondering what we can do.
Good!
Here is what we must do if we're going to take our country back:
First, make a solemn vow to never, ever vote for any candidate that takes corporate money. Yes, that leaves you with substantially fewer choices, but there are good choices out there. In the last election cycle, only Kucinich and Cobb of the Greens didn't take corporate cash, and both of them would have made a fine President. Apply this principle across the board, from local to state to national elections, and the message will get heard pretty quick.
Second, work like hell for publicly financed election campaigns in your state. These are desperately needed tools that will allow the public to have a wide range of candidates that are untainted by corporate cash. Currently two states have publicly financed election campaigns, Arizona and Maine. Twenty two other states can have this enacted via the initiative petition, the rest will have to have it pushed through their legislature. If we can get the ball rolling on this, especially by getting those twenty two states to enact this, we will reach a critical mass of public opinion and policy that will force other states to adapt similar measures.
Third, make instant runoff voting a reality. This will allow full participation of third party candidates in our election system. Many of those third parties, like the Greens, have made it a policy to not accept corporate cash. Enacting instant runoff voting will help level the playing field for these folks, and bring about a better democracy for all of us.
If we wish to retain an honest political process, enacting these measures is a priority. Otherwise we're just going to be subjected to more of the same 'ol, same 'ol, pious political mouthings by our so-called leader while they are selling us down the river. Our current political process has made money more important than votes in any given election, from dogcatcher to President. Unless we reassert the prominentcy of the people in our political process soon, government of the people, by the people and for the people will become polite mouthings made by bought and paid for corporate politicians.
The problem with our political system is now laid bare for all to see. The solution is also quite clear. It is now up to us to bring it about now, before it is too late.
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