There is an underbelly of America, that most of us are aware of: The heavy drug and alcohol use, spousal abuse, primary education disaster, crowded urban areas, lack of open space, uneven health care, overcrowded prisons, almost no labor unions representing workers in the private sector, and overpopulation.
The functional part of America is having a pretty good time: "The rich are getting richer and the poor are having kids."(an old depression expression)
We even have developed a political elite, never seen in this country's history: A Plutocratic two-party system of well connected elected officials (who turn lobbyists for special interests) funded by citizens who have $2,300 dollars to hand over to presidential candidates and congressional representatives, in both parties.
Many of the presidential candidates are wealthy. I am not against wealth, after all: Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy were wealthy and did a great job for America.
However, because of this haphazard campaign finance system, we have developed after Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal, more money is going to fewer elected officials, who have a lock on the system and are squeezing out average folks from the process.
This process results in the views and needs of one class of people destroying the dreams and hopes of others.
A simple example: Los Angeles. Average folks have a hard time making it to work on time in the Century City area. With the westside getting traffic gridlock, a developer was granted "special dispensation" to build a huge highrise right in the middle of this traffic nightmare. I don't blame the developer from wanting to make more money, but where is the governing aribtrator on this issue?
Even though no one wants this high rise, it will be built: The developers go to the politicians fund raisers, can pay the necessary amount of money to meet the "right people" and influence the change.
So more city funds will be used to support this project, rather than, let's say, a park with trees.
The presidential campaign is the same story with an extreme difference: It will cost a BILLION DOLLARS to get to the oval office in January of 2009.
Many of the candidates are wealthy and out of touch of the practical needs of America.
Most of them have a driver, 100% health insurance, a great retirement plan, and workers who ease every pain.
While most people don't have the cash to fix up their car, someone has enough extra money to give to both sides of the aisle in this presidential campaign.
Do you really think that the American Automobile Industry will change to all electric vehicles, or we will get honest health care reform, when the insurance industry has a full press going on with every politician in power.
My democratic party is making no noise about the billions of dollars pumped into political campaigns.
In fact we now have a super-duper primary date, causing more wealth going into the political coffers, earlier, to influence an early election.
Everyone is happy in a system, which most average Americans consider corrupt.
So why is nothing being done about it?
"Let them eat votes."
Thanks for reading:
Bob Kholos