We’re on our own. You and I __ the vast majority of Americans __ have no one else to turn to.
Not our leaders, not our pundits, not our spokespersons, not so-called “job creators”, not our teachers or ministers. Not the Clintons or Bushes, not the Trumps or Romneys. Certainly not the Kochs or the Murdochs or Bloombergs, Adelsons or Gates. Not the Dimons or the Blankfeins.
Most of them are on the other team, or at very least play for the other team. That other team is one that you and I will never get to join. It is an isolated, insular, impudent, incomprehensibly wealthy club __ a very tiny slice of our 300+ million __ who have so much, want even more, and will never be satisfied until they have it all. We are just more items on their shopping list. Welcome to capitalism run amok! Welcome to a country where everything has a price and there are some who are so possessed by greed, they see human beings as servants, chattel, minions, serfs, and __ if they can get us for free __ slaves.
What’s this got to do with us? History has shown that in every society there is always an elite which sees itself as superior to the swarming mob, a cut above the unwashed masses, members of an aristocratic class, living in its own exclusive world of privilege. It’s just an unpleasant side of human nature. There’s nothing new about snobbery.
Why should we be concerned?
If it’s not obvious, it’s this . . .
They now own and control our elected representatives, including whoever holds the office of President. You doubt this? Look at Obama’s aggressively embracing and promoting the worst, most onerous trade bills in the history of the world, TPP and TPIP. This one master stroke by the ruling oligarchs will enslave nearly half of the world’s population. National borders will mean nothing. Corporations and the oligarchs who own them will exercise absolute imperial rule over wealth, resources __ our lives, and those of our children.
This whole TPP/TPIP issue should be a warning! There’s a message in this treachery we need to remind ourselves of every waking minute: Even some of those who claim to be “one of us” or “on our side” are owned by that tiny .1% of America who truly have the power __ the ones who are actually running things.
So . . . it’s just us. It’s you and me against them.
My strategy for radical electoral reform, as described in my book Candidate Contracts: Taking Back Our Democracy, is not elitist. Nor does it pander to the elite. It does not crawl to the rich and powerful and beg them to show us some mercy.
As a matter of fact, my plan is the essence of populist activism. For it to be successfully implemented requires participation by average citizens, across the political spectrum.
I will admit, I did send the book gratis to hundreds of thinkers in academia, think tanks, pundit pools, a host of well-known and not so well-known spokespersons for the “liberal establishment”, essentially members of an “elite” in terms of intellectual leadership. Because many of these prominent individuals are part of __ often lead __ the national conversation on all things germane to the running of our country, most of them are very much a part of the system. At the same time, their endorsement of my ideas might give them credibility, or at least draw some attention to and create publicity for a plan which the general public needs to know about and actively support.
I’m not sure what to expect of these thinker types.
Frankly, I’m not expecting much.
Most of them are busy, and more discouragingly, already tightly locked into their own methodologies for what they peddle as activism. They often neglect to notice that despite their best and allegedly noble efforts, things continue to deteriorate. The only change is that as each day passes, things deteriorate more quickly.
I must say, there sure are an abundance of people commenting on the problems.
But not many solving the problems.
It’s a fundamental distinction, which is often missed.
What if you had a horrible flesh-eating disease?
Medical experts come in and declare: “We have analyzed all of the data and come to the conclusion that you are in big trouble, clearly in horrible pain, the victim of a terrible disease. It is very tragic! Have a nice day.”
Do we need to bring in several more teams of experts to tell you the same thing?
I assume this is more what you’d hope for: “We have analyzed the data on your condition. While your situation is serious, we have come up with a detailed plan involving a host of drugs, some surgical procedures, and a program for rehabilitation. We can cure this and once we are done, you should be able to live a long and fulfilling life.”
The difference should be apparent.
My book is not more whining. It offers a step-by-step, highly detailed plan for challenging the corruption of our current politicos, and for reversing the destruction of representative democracy in America.
Let me just mention this in closing . . .
There are a few highly visible figures who are on our side, demonstrated by their own writings and activism for our team, by their dedication to making a better life for every American. Once the printed books are out, I will be sending copies to Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Robert Reich, Michael Moore, and several others who are to varying degrees in the national spotlight, and whose support would be valuable.
We’ll see what comes of that.
I can’t force anyone to pay attention. I can only put my ideas out there.
Change doesn’t just magically happen.
People need to believe it’s possible.
Then they need to make room in their hearts and time in their day to make it happen.
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