85% of the “big money” went to right-wing candidates and organizations, according to the figures I’ve seen. Imagine a debate held in a mega-arena with 100,000 people in attendance, where one side gets to use the sound system and the other side just has to shout really loud. Funny how some folks like to talk about level playing fields, competition, and opportunity, as all being so very important, but then oppose all rules that will level the playing field, or make for actual competition or opportunity. But money is now speech, so perhaps we should revise the old term “silent majoriy” to “speechless majority.”
Every culture and civilization creates or experiences a high point before a slow (or quick) collapse. I wonder if we have all witnessed the zenith of American culture.
In their many writings, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, and others wrote with concern about what would happen to this nation should money ever become a factor in how our legislative and executive candidates were elected. Not a major factor, but just one small part of the process. Since the sixties, money has become more and more influential in who reaches office in D.C. as well as in the states. Multinational Corporations are now considered people with a voice and money is considered speech, instead of a way of exchanging services and goods.There is a new nobility made up of people with conservative and liberal views. Some are self interested egotists who seek a greater position In our economy, some are individuals who actually want to see positive things for the nation based on their paradigm and world view. However, the new serfdom are middle class workers in offices and factories, people who would love to start businesses of their own, or become more important in the company where they work, but who, because of outsourcing, prisons for profit labor, and other factors, are trapped where they are. Below these ‘fortunate’ are the poor; people who were born at a disadvantage and because of many things, some they, others, or the city in which they lived did or did not do, never broke free of the life in which they find themselves trapped.We have been a nation capable of making changes that are positive and long lasting, but the money being used to select candidates who are either incompetent or irresponsible, is driving our nation into a very deep and polluted ditch. There will come a time when our ability to get out of that ditch may become impossible, it is therefore incumbent on each of us to become more involved in helping to find candidates who are will to set aside the things on which we can’t agree in order to move forward on the ones where agreement is possible. Becoming a Nine Issue Voter will go far to accomplishing this. There will always be things on which we don’t agree, but can you think of one on which we all can agree? I have one…All water sources from which humans, plants, and animals drink should be clean. Anyone disagree with that? Can you think of some important laws that should be written or enforced to make it happen?I would love to hear if any of you have an idea for something on which we could all agree.Respectfully,C.
I would like to share a few passages from noted historian William L. Shirer, in one of his masterworks “The Collapse of the Third Republic”, which delves into all the internal shenanigans and corruption which lead France, between the great wars, to utter ruin.
“At the beginning of 1924, the Treasury could not meet its short-term obligations and Parliament finally approved Poincare’s demand for a rise of 20% in all taxes, direct and indirect. This fell hardest on the poor, since indirect taxes on consumption accounted for nearly half the state revenues, and the income tax – full of glaring loopholes and scandalously evaded by all who could get by with it, the rich above all – for less than a quarter. The selfishness of the money class in avoiding any financial sacrifice to help put the country back on its feet later struck many French historians as shocking! The possessors and the manipulators of most of the country’s wealth simply contrived to escape shouldering a fair share of the burden of paying for the war and the reconstruction.”
“The flight of capital itself, in which the great financial houses took the lead, was, aside from the damage it did to the country, a form of blackmail against the government not to raise taxes and especially not to consider a tax on capital.”
“And more and more, as the last years of the Third Republic ticked off, the wealthy found it difficult to put the interest of the nation above that of their class. Faced with specific obligations to the country if the state were not to flounder in a financial morass, they shrank from meeting them. The Republic might go under, but their valuables would be preserved. In the meantime they would not help keep it afloat by paying a fair share of the taxes. The tax burden was for others to shoulder.”
Alexander the Good Enough about 10 years ago
At first, I thought “BIG MONEY” ought ot be green. But then…no…no…that’s right. Red, as in “red state…”
Doughfoot about 10 years ago
85% of the “big money” went to right-wing candidates and organizations, according to the figures I’ve seen. Imagine a debate held in a mega-arena with 100,000 people in attendance, where one side gets to use the sound system and the other side just has to shout really loud. Funny how some folks like to talk about level playing fields, competition, and opportunity, as all being so very important, but then oppose all rules that will level the playing field, or make for actual competition or opportunity. But money is now speech, so perhaps we should revise the old term “silent majoriy” to “speechless majority.”
ajnotales about 10 years ago
Every culture and civilization creates or experiences a high point before a slow (or quick) collapse. I wonder if we have all witnessed the zenith of American culture.
chazandru about 10 years ago
In their many writings, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, and others wrote with concern about what would happen to this nation should money ever become a factor in how our legislative and executive candidates were elected. Not a major factor, but just one small part of the process. Since the sixties, money has become more and more influential in who reaches office in D.C. as well as in the states. Multinational Corporations are now considered people with a voice and money is considered speech, instead of a way of exchanging services and goods.There is a new nobility made up of people with conservative and liberal views. Some are self interested egotists who seek a greater position In our economy, some are individuals who actually want to see positive things for the nation based on their paradigm and world view. However, the new serfdom are middle class workers in offices and factories, people who would love to start businesses of their own, or become more important in the company where they work, but who, because of outsourcing, prisons for profit labor, and other factors, are trapped where they are. Below these ‘fortunate’ are the poor; people who were born at a disadvantage and because of many things, some they, others, or the city in which they lived did or did not do, never broke free of the life in which they find themselves trapped.We have been a nation capable of making changes that are positive and long lasting, but the money being used to select candidates who are either incompetent or irresponsible, is driving our nation into a very deep and polluted ditch. There will come a time when our ability to get out of that ditch may become impossible, it is therefore incumbent on each of us to become more involved in helping to find candidates who are will to set aside the things on which we can’t agree in order to move forward on the ones where agreement is possible. Becoming a Nine Issue Voter will go far to accomplishing this. There will always be things on which we don’t agree, but can you think of one on which we all can agree? I have one…All water sources from which humans, plants, and animals drink should be clean. Anyone disagree with that? Can you think of some important laws that should be written or enforced to make it happen?I would love to hear if any of you have an idea for something on which we could all agree.Respectfully,C.
moosemin about 10 years ago
Well stated, Respectful Troll.
I would like to share a few passages from noted historian William L. Shirer, in one of his masterworks “The Collapse of the Third Republic”, which delves into all the internal shenanigans and corruption which lead France, between the great wars, to utter ruin.
“At the beginning of 1924, the Treasury could not meet its short-term obligations and Parliament finally approved Poincare’s demand for a rise of 20% in all taxes, direct and indirect. This fell hardest on the poor, since indirect taxes on consumption accounted for nearly half the state revenues, and the income tax – full of glaring loopholes and scandalously evaded by all who could get by with it, the rich above all – for less than a quarter. The selfishness of the money class in avoiding any financial sacrifice to help put the country back on its feet later struck many French historians as shocking! The possessors and the manipulators of most of the country’s wealth simply contrived to escape shouldering a fair share of the burden of paying for the war and the reconstruction.”
“The flight of capital itself, in which the great financial houses took the lead, was, aside from the damage it did to the country, a form of blackmail against the government not to raise taxes and especially not to consider a tax on capital.”
“And more and more, as the last years of the Third Republic ticked off, the wealthy found it difficult to put the interest of the nation above that of their class. Faced with specific obligations to the country if the state were not to flounder in a financial morass, they shrank from meeting them. The Republic might go under, but their valuables would be preserved. In the meantime they would not help keep it afloat by paying a fair share of the taxes. The tax burden was for others to shoulder.”
Any of this sound familiar?