Commentary: Our Pretend National Elections
May 15, 2008 by Ernie Shifflett
Many people think it matters who wins our elections, think their vote matters, and believe our votes will influence our representatives to do our bidding. All such people are mistaken. Corporations and big money contributors to campaigns are the only beneficiaries of the election results. They make sure of this by making large contributions to both political parties, not caring much who wins, since they have paid for the support they want on issues they care about. By doing this they are able to have their way on the issues important to them. Voters and citizens be damned.
As long as we allow corporations and big money contributions to control our government, what the majority of voters want on critical problems is irrelevant. These problems include the war in Iraq, universal healthcare, global warming, energy independence, unfair taxation system, guaranteed fair elections, and preservation of our constitutional rights. The corporations will continue to have their way to maximize short term profits as their highest priority.
Given the current system of providing funds for running for office, there is no playing field, much less a level one. The only hope we have and the only issue that matters is to disenfranchise corporations, and only allow small political contributions or publically funded campaigns. We need our representatives to work on our problems, not primarily on raising money for their reelection.
Many may claim we can’t change the system, but we have to if we want to restore democracy. Several organizations have been working this single, overriding problem, including Program on Corporations, Law, and Democracy (www.poclad.org) and Reclaim Democracy (www.reclaimdemocracy.org). Our courts have given corporations absurd powers, and we must see this change to have any hope for government by the people and for the people.
Ernie Shifflett
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Commentary: Our Pretend National Elections
May 15, 2008 by Ernie Shifflett
Many people think it matters who wins our elections, think their vote matters, and believe our votes will influence our representatives to do our bidding. All such people are mistaken. Corporations and big money contributors to campaigns are the only beneficiaries of the election results. They make sure of this by making large contributions to both political parties, not caring much who wins, since they have paid for the support they want on issues they care about. By doing this they are able to have their way on the issues important to them. Voters and citizens be damned.
As long as we allow corporations and big money contributions to control our government, what the majority of voters want on critical problems is irrelevant. These problems include the war in Iraq, universal healthcare, global warming, energy independence, unfair taxation system, guaranteed fair elections, and preservation of our constitutional rights. The corporations will continue to have their way to maximize short term profits as their highest priority.
Given the current system of providing funds for running for office, there is no playing field, much less a level one. The only hope we have and the only issue that matters is to disenfranchise corporations, and only allow small political contributions or publically funded campaigns. We need our representatives to work on our problems, not primarily on raising money for their reelection.
Many may claim we can’t change the system, but we have to if we want to restore democracy. Several organizations have been working this single, overriding problem, including Program on Corporations, Law, and Democracy (www.poclad.org) and Reclaim Democracy (www.reclaimdemocracy.org). Our courts have given corporations absurd powers, and we must see this change to have any hope for government by the people and for the people.
Ernie Shifflett
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