A recent article in the online Huffington Post discussed the depth and breadth of the corrupting influence of money in the political landscape of this country. I'm not expert or even well informed on the subject, but I'm aware of the subject. Campaign finances are the 800 pound gorilla in the room that is American democracy.
Like so many conditions in contemporary life we seem to want to fall into the belief that this is just how it is and how it's going to be. The thought of forging change in an arena where the players themselves don't have any interest in changing the rules seems hopeless. Fact is, money rules American life at every level. It's true in politics, it's true in medicine, it's true in religion, it's true in education. Money makes us tick: Sit, stay, rollover, play dead, be happy.
More and more it seems we are being lulled into accepting this cult, the cult of materialism. So much so that for many Americans just the semblance of material wealth is enough to provide that happy contentment that keeps one from paying attention, asking real questions, actively looking after one's personal welfare. As long as we have iPads, pods and phones; texting, tweeting, and gaming; as long as we have football 4 nights a week-- or basketball or baseball, tennis or golf, wings and beer; as long as we have great food and stuff to eat like Applebees and Ponderosa, Outback, and freezer cases full of "ready to eat family meals"; as long as we have 20 dollar jeans and hundred dollar suits, 5 dollar ties and 40 dollar loafers; as long as our health and education become "pay for performance" and, in doing so, removes all individual responsibility for wellbeing and knowledge-- in short, as long as we can convince people that the food, clothing, and entertainment they're getting is fun, affordable, and all that matters-- then nobody needs to worry about anyone seriously wanting to alter the status quo. After all, they're happy! Boy, are they happy!
Unfortunately, what we really are is distracted. We've become happily distracted and are encouraged to remain that way every 5 minutes or so that a TV is left on. We've become distracted and believe the most critical issues facing Americans in this election are not civil rights, it's not justice, not healthcare, or education, or tolerance, or care of the elderly. It's jobs. Give me a job. Give me some money. Let me buy stuff-- and I'll be happy. It has all become about "me" rather than "us." The politics of money have become very personal, indeed. Meanwhile, as the lopsided growth of wealth continues unabated, the real poverty that's being created in this country is becoming obscured by all the pretty distractions.
Fortunately, I do think there remains a fundamental difference between the two major political parties, campaign financing aside. I don't know that I've recognized such a well defined philosophical dividing line at any time previously in my voting lifetime. And, as the President said Thursday night, this election will be about making a choice and choosing a direction. For us as individuals, however, we may just need to turn off the entertainment and get to work in order to become educated about who is in charge and just what is going on in this country.
Until the long reach of corporate and special interest money is either exposed completely or eliminated entirely, we won't fully know what we're getting regardless of who wins this election. And you can expect the task of achieving campaign finance reform will fall to us, the people, not them, the elected. Until then, I'll continue to vote the ticket that I believe will best support us and not me; us and not them.
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