I am rapidly becoming the ultimate cynic. With great fanfare government announces a new attempt to regulate, or control, or just manage the latest problem created by their last attempt to regulate, or control, or just manage the problem created by their former attempt to... It's a hall of mirrors, each "new" legislative event a half-assed nod to the screw-ups of the past. And, no real guts to tackle the underlying issues that keep the pot boiling.
It is highly fashionable to chant "We avoided the abyss." Much back slapping, much wise head shaking, and many congratulatory Huzzahs all around.
And we, ever innocent, ever gullible, ever naive, focus on the latest crisis with all of the brains and experience we can bring to bare, never stepping back to take in the entirety of the disaster that the USA, circa 2009.
For months we have been led down the garden path on health care. We know what needs to be done. We know it really won't be done. Because, we know the "backroom" is jammed with people whose sole job is to destroy any change. We know they line the pockets of politicians to effect this block of reform. And yet, we treat that as though it were a mere annoyance.
Now we are about to embark on a touted major reform of the financial system. We know what needs to be done (and, yes, it is God's Work, sic.), but we know that the people who created the morass that is the current financial climate are now in charge of rectifying the mess they created. A mess that rewarded them very well and screwed the rest of us royally. Why would they want to change the current system? Why would they want regulations that block theft and usury, greed and stupidity from bankrupting the entire planet? After all, they got theirs. And, to keep theirs they will line the pockets of the venal and stupid people we send to Congress, in both the state and local government, to dilute, and water down, and eventually make meaningless, the proposed reforms.
We had a flurry on Cap and Trade, but the pressure was so intense it never got to a vote.
And we, the Progressives, the most well informed people on the outside of the money game, treat each of these issues as if they were individual and independent. We fret and rant about each new proposal, pouring over the details, looking for a glimmer of sanity and responsibility in the offerings that the Congress will write into law. We settle. We tell ourselves that we will get what we can while the getting is good. We acknowledge the graft and corruption but shrug and say, "Well. what can we do?"
Pouty little purists like Dennis Kuchinch vote against even the modicum of "reform" offered because, well, because they don't like it. He doesn't think it goes "far" enough.
Nasty little martinets like Bart Stupac, and his C Street fanatics, pop a poison pill into health care reform, just because they can. Then, because the word abortion was raised, our cowardly Reps. cringed, and voted for the amendment.
We mutter about better Democrats. But what are we doing, beside piece meal local efforts, to accomplish our goal? And, what about better Republicans? Every enlightened nation needs a least two, thoughtful, well reasoned points of view on every issue.
The oft repeated mantra, "all politics is local" is a clever way to keep us from stepping back and developing a holistic electoral strategy. It keeps us focused on small issues, navel gazing about roads, and parks, and the elementary school down the block. Meanwhile they are burning down the house.
We keep telling ourselves that if we just make enough noise, knock on enough doors, letter a few more placards, they will pay attention. But it will never work, as long a 50% of the electorate can't name one single Supreme, doesn't know their Congressional District, or Representative, and thinks that government is the problem, not the solution.
The Founders thought our Congressional members would educate us, keep us informed, and try to do the right thing. Even this cynic can laugh at the absurdity of that. Painfully ill-informed, painfully stupid, painfully venal men and women, desperately hanging on to the illusion of power garnered through campaign contributions, want us to remain stupid, mis-informed, and subject to the fear mongering they dole out. It keeps us in line.
I can see only one solution to the unholy mess that has become the Congress of the United States. A place devoid of statesmen, devoid of honor, and devoid of the level of intelligence a modern nation needs in its governance.
It is time we united behind one singled idea. One single issue. One single cause.
When an electorate allows itself to be lied to, to be deliberately misled in support of programs that benefit no one but the corporate overlords; when millions of people can not trouble themselves to vote on issues but respond only to the glamor shots and hair dos; when the power and prestige of this country is pissed away in a testosterone poisoned war that no one can find the courage to abandon because the MIC will whimper, it is time we step back and consider the depth and breath of the problem.
Money. Corporations treated as people. Greasing the skids for self serving legislation with no thought to the consequences. A "Global World" that may reduce nation to nation conflict, but also eliminates any loyalty to the people, principles, and purposes for which a nation was formed.
We have got to get the money out of politics. Out of legislating. Out of selling a candidate. Out of distorting fact and bending truth to coax voters to destroy all they claim to value, in order to serve the corporations that pay for votes and laws.
We have got to mobilize our resources, focus our efforts, and agitate until all elections are funded by from public money. Yes, and old idea, always poo-pooed when it is raised. But those with a vested interest are more terrified of losing their power to buy laws than anything else we can do.
What ever our pet issue, what ever our pet legislation, whoever our valued Representative or Senator, (and there are a few good ones - far too few) we must put that aside and focus all of our considerable energy, and talent on one issue. Get the money out of politics. Completely out.
Take $5.00 from each tax return to fund elections. Split the money evenly between everyone running for national office 90 days before each election date. Allow no contributions of cash, or kind, to find a way into the coffers of office holders. Like a household full of two year olds we must put the cookie jar on the highest shelf, because they can't be trusted.
Their daily calendars would be freed up, they would have a lot more time to read the bills they sign, and there would be no conflicts of interest beyond those which naturally arise between different regions.
Focus. Get the money out!