think about it by william e. kelly
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
BEFORE YOU VOTE! During a single day of the 2016 primaries, I received 61 emails, a dozen phone calls and
my postal mailbox was also stuffed, all asking me to fund campaigns. Money is definitely purchasing the ruling power from the people and what people running for public office spend, literally sickens me. It has become one big jumble of who can spend the most money to put the best spin on their party, candidate or proposal.
The pandering for money and political advertising
in support of candidates—who court us for very lucrative, well paying, elected positions—with benefits most constituents will never see…Is insanity! Our process is unnecessarily wasteful of energy, time and money. Ridiculously lengthy primaries and extensive public relations campaigns, force those running to spend far too much time and energy bellowing about what their opponents did wrong…Rather than being specific about how they can do a better job of doing the electorate’s business. On top of that, too many, good potential public servants are being shut out of the process, because they can’t afford access to all the expensive, fancy wrappings…Or those doing the wrapping. It is a smoke and mirrors game and “We the people,” allow and enable our elected public servants to perpetuate this self-destruction. Candidates have little choice but to hire the best campaign managers and public relations firms money and influence can
46 RAGE monthly | OCTOBER 2016
buy to craft speeches, projecting often false images and platforms they may or may not be capable of articulating on their own, or even believe in. In short, too many lawmakers are being packaged as neatly and attractively as money can buy, with little regard for the realities of the peoples’ wants or needs. The ideals of equality under the law: Compas-
sion, democracy, freedom and equal opportunity, have become gut-wrenchingly tarnished. Corrupted elections have been reduced to a process of amplify- ing the voices of the few influential elite, while simultaneously muffling the voices of the moderate majority. It is madness and must be stopped. Strong demands need to be made for election and lobby financing reform. A “money and influence takes all” style of governing, is causing irreparable dam- age to America’s democracy, economy and world image. The silenced majority, can no longer afford such a self-destructive approach to governing and being governed. If not here and now by us—then
when—and by whom? We are a nation and people who have seen many changes over our history, as we worked to better our democracy, government, society, quality of living and generally, life itself. Be we Democrat, Republican or “other,” ousting the “elephants” and “donkeys” from the room, is the only way to deal with the corrupted process of purchased influence, which control the weary civilian. Those who seek election or re-election and abuse power with their money, position and influence in order to further themselves with disregard for the people, must be weeded out. Those we elect to govern must be willing and able, to put personal aspirations and beliefs aside if they are to truly carry out their solemn responsibility to all citizens…including those with whom they fundamentally disagree. It is their sworn duty to protect, respect and serve all the people. Elected public servants must serve their constituents’ economic and social systems, with a sense of civil equality, justice, fairness and respect, for the good of all. As the elections draw closer, we owe it to ourselves and our fellow Americans to be logical and critical of campaign antics and rhetoric, as well as the media covering it. It is “We the people” who have the toughest responsibility for sorting out the truths from the sound bites, the exaggerations from half truths and bald-faced lies. Don’t let yourselves down, don’t let each other down and don’t let the American dream down. Do your homework! Know who and what you are voting for and why.
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