Whatever you might think of the recent SCOTUS ruling on campaign contributions, one thing is abysmally clear — the collapse of America is coming closer and closer. Why, you ask? Because, without a true functioning government — and in this country, that means a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people — there is no bottom to corpocracy, to greed, to corruption, to disaster.
And the sad truth is, it’s so easy to fix. And the people who shudder at the very mention of campaign finance reform are, sadly, those who thrive on corpocracy, greed and corruption. And, tragically, many of them are your senators and congresspeople. They like the special interests. They like the special attention they receive. They like the money that pours into their coffers. They didn’t seek public office to give a hoot about their constituents — they sought public office to enrich themselves on the backs of their constituents, to make career changes that would, one way or another, set them up for life. The worst of the worst at it get caught out and kicked out. The rest get away with it. Are there some good ones in the bunch? I’m sure there are, and I can probably name them. But they’re too few to make any real difference.
Don’t agree? Okay, let’s put it to the test. A couple of years ago, I suggested a simple, winning solution to my own congressman. I suggested that a designated sum of money be transferred from every taxpayer’s tax return to a national, interest-bearing election account, and then proportionally allotted to every legitimate candidate for national office every two years. That’s it. No other contributions accepted. At any time. For any reason.
Just think what that would do to clean up the dirt that is the American government today. Our senators and congresspeople would be beholden to no one but their constituents. They could admit that global warming does indeed exist. They could hasten the planet on the path to real sustainability. They could tell health insurance companies where they could take their business if they didn’t treat their people right. They could suggest to pharmaceutical companies that gouging their constituents was not okay. They could tell big banks and Wall Street that their heydays were over. They could perhaps then honestly claim the moral integrity to lead the world. What a novel concept!
Oh yes, and what did my congressperson do in response to my suggestion? He ignored it.
