Financial Shakeup this weekend

[Wellardmac]

emayer wrote:

We all agree that part of the solution lies in the introduction of additional political voices in the Chambers of power. It is easy for us to harp on the state of things but as contibuting citizens and parents the questions I have are: What will it take for the formation of additional parties? Is the system so entrenched that it is no longer feasible? Who would finance such a movement against the established? Is the average American citizen cognizant of the path we are on and willing to accept the personal and financial sacrifices necessary to reprioritze this country?

There are a number of things that are barriers to this - not insurmountable, but barriers regardless.

i) The founding fathers believed that the electorate were stupid and not to be trusted to elect their own government, hence the creation of the electoral college. Overcoming that barrier is real and hard to do, as small states have a vested interest in the status quo.

ii) Washington doesn't want to change - why should they? this is a cushy gig for those that are elected.

iii) Big business doesn't want change - having a government more accountable to the electorate, that's horrifying - why would we want to dilute the influence of those with money?

iv) The average American citizen doesn't care, so why should the government. If the people are willing to be governed like lemmings, then they should be treated as such.

What will it take to affect change?

i) The average american has to start caring about what happens around them - they need to care about current affairs, they need to question what they're being told and spoonfed by the media and start asking questions.

ii) Once they're asking questions they need to start holding their government accountable - get involved in the process - pay attention, make your voice heard by letting your representatives know what you think. Believe me, my representatives know me well - write to them and let them know your feelings - sign petitions. - only the stupid ignore the will of those that elected them - ask Rick Santorum. I'd frequently get responses from him along the lines of "I disagree with what you said, and here's why I'm going to do what I think is right". I saw him on television this weekend - he's a pigheaded dufus that still doesn't get it and doesn't deserve to hold public office again.

If those things happen, then this country will be radically different. If the the electorate are engaged, voicing their opinion, and it is being ignored, then the electorate will be primed to vote for a third party - they should be so enraged that they're being ignored that another Ross Perot could come along and affect change. Until the population is enraged with the elected officials that claim to represent them, then there will be no change. Until the average American starts to pay attention, then they don't deserve change.

Ideally, the system should be one where each vote is counted and officials are elected based on proportional representation - then the will of the people is heard and heeded. That's not going to happen without a change to the Constitution and I really don't see that happening any time soon.