Hypocrisy of politicians and why it's my fault.

Just One Simple Idea.......Politicians need not have beliefs and opinions outside of ours.

I voted for Obama, and Obama before that.  And I voted for most other democrats in the other races too.  And what I've done ,as most all of us have, is to vote for the lesser of the perceived evils.  Our system is perceived to be that of vote for the person who's opinion and beliefs most closely mirror that of our own and hope that they work well for us.  And then by doing this we end up subscribing to one of two major belief systems......am I a Democrat or a Republican?  We don't vote for the Libertarian, or the Independent because if we do, then it takes votes away from defeating the greater of the evils.  Republicans and Democrats garner over 90% of all votes cast in most races yet our belief systems are so much more complicated than voting for one of two options.

I believe in gun control but believe in stronger states rights.  I believe in social services but also believe national government should be small.  I believe in personal responsibility but also believe that those who benefit from capitalism the most should help those who are ultimately responsible for their rise.  Classification seems to escape me so I usually vote democratic because I firmly believe in helping those less fortunate than myself.

Our opinions and our beliefs define us more than any other aspect and yet we as a people are minimized in that our beliefs and opinions are secondary to those who represent us in government.  The beliefs of our representation in government precedes ours.  Let it sink in, the beliefs of those we select to represent us take precedent over our beliefs.  Foolish is he who believes that the opinions of those we elect are ours. 

We have a Republican government.  Not the Republican party run government.  The purest form of a Republic necessitates the needs of the many over the needs of a few.  It is democratic in that the beliefs of the majority of the represented populace become the beliefs of the whole.  Not literally mind you but in that if the majority of those represented believe in gun control, then they are represented accordingly.

This is our failure and ignorance is the disciple of that failure.  We are ignorant in the methods in which our rights under the constitution are perceived.  We fail each of us time and again when those chosen to represent us are chosen solely based on one of two unrelenting belief systems.  It is not ours to choose those to represent upon the basis of their thinking, it is ours to choose those willing to submit to the majority.

Should those chosen, staunchly opined to defend pro choice represent as pro choice when a majority opine otherwise?  In that lies the hypocrisy of politicians in our modern nation when the methods of the past superseded the capabilities of the future we live in.  It is in these capabilities that the majority can truly be represented.  The basis of voting need not lie in the choosing of lesser evils but choosing those strong enough to relieve themselves of opinions other than the majority.  Internet and telephone, home by home and random acts of conversation, these are some of the tools available to determine a majority.  It is our responsibility to have those representing account for their chosen opinions and the methods used for determination.

Choose wisely.

I have the power......Corporate greed be damned!

It just takes one idea, one simple idea.

Pick a large company, any company.  Apple, Verizon, Comcast, Exempla, Chevrolet, any one will work.  Now, stop doing business with them.

Let's pretend that we choose Chevrolet.  Chevrolet because it's probably the company that will have the most impact due to its longevity and brand recognition.  Chevrolet because it's mismanagement triggered a government bailout and Chevrolet because it is the parent company and not a subsidiary.

The idea is simple, companies do not run this country, the people do.  What this says is that the people will not sit idly by while companies funnel money, lobbies, and agendas to the lawmakers that are not in the peoples best interest.  Some might say that voting is the best way to make changes for the country but it has to be clear to more people then me that the money coming from companies is what drives elections in this country.  It's not about what is best for the people, it's about what is best for the companies and their profits and next quarter results.

Here's how it plays out as an example.  I buy a car, Chevy uses a percentage of that money for lobbying and contributions.  Let's say that they hire a lobbyist in Michigan to create legislation that will effectively cap employer contributions to employer provided health care plans regardless of premium increases thus placing the burden of increases solely on the employees.  Chevy then donates an incredible amount of money to a Super PAC that then contributes it all to a single congressman.  It's through a Super PAC so you'd never even know it came from Chevy.  Now, as a stipulation for receiving that money, the congressman must submit the legislation created by the lobbyist that benefits Chevy.  The bill is sponsored and put up for a vote where it passes because the other representatives have also received money from Super PACs specifically to pass this legislation.

What are the ramifications of this and where is the accountability?  Employees wages are effectively decreased, lowering labor costs and increasing profit.  Because it is NEVER about helping the greater good with companies.  NEVER.  The representative has nothing to fear.  They haven't had to be accountable for legislation and votes cast.  When was the last time you were asked whether your representative should vote for something?  We live in a country where they screw us now and ask forgiveness later.....and only if they don't have enough money to out advertise their competition.

This is a pretty simplified example, in real life companies are much more creative and underhanded when it comes to increasing profits.  Again, companies are not in it for the greater good.  They are in it to make money.

Of course there will be repercussions with this course.  It will mean that markets may temporarily destabilize as the realization dawns that management of old will not work in the peoples country.  It will mean that some people will lose their jobs.  Chevy employs roughly 209K people and ancillary companies amount to approximately 100K.  It will mean that government will expand temporarily to help those in need.  But, it will mean that other companies will hire more people to account for the increased business (I'm not saying don't buy a car, just not a Chevy).  Those other companies revenues and subsequently their profits will increase.  The end result is a company dies but another will take its place.  There is only the temporary timeframe to ride out as everything stabilizes again.  The message will be received, and it will be noticed.

The people can send that message.  It's a message that tells the story of us as a country.  It states that companies can not control the people and that it is the people who have the power.  It states that elected officials exist within our bounds and not payrolls of inanimate entities.  Pick a company, any company and tell them to die, then tell your friends to let the company die, then we all can ride the wave to a new era of accountability.  Accountability to those in power......the People.