Our bloated defense spending is unnecessary yet with defense contractors facilities in all 50 states providing jobs there's no way the politicos in those states are going to challenge the spending providing those jobs.
The fundamental issue that needs to be addressed in this country is an electoral system corrupted by big moneyed interests. Whether in local, state and federal elections the corruption of candidates by those interests Is the standard of "pay to play".
For sure there are a few office holders that have forsaken the corporate underwriting of their campaigns and gotten elected. But particularly on the state and federal level they are few in numbers and have no power to get legislation enacted to benefit the peoples interests.
The people whether the right, left or in the middle recognize the country is off track yet are so fractured in their positions it's hard to imagine them agreeing on anything.
Is there a unifying theme that can unite them? People know instinctively money corrupts. Is it by accident casino magnate Sheldon Adelson who contributed millions to Trump's campaign coffers is invited to the White House?
How about Goldman Sachs being fined $millions for suspect financial transactions during the financial meltdown in 2008 yet made $billions before the bubble bursted. Of course Goldman wasn't the only big bank culpable for its skullduggery in helping create the sub-prime mortgage crisis as all the big banks weren't held accountable got bailed out and no one went to jail.
Obama during his presidential primary campaign in 2008 got mostly small donations. However his presidential campaign was mostly underwritten by Wall Street banks. Could it be those banks got off scot free after he was elected?
Congress after some initial misgivings approved the $700+ billion bailout of the banks revealing this was a bi-partisan exercise, except a few members not beholden to them.
The big banks behavior should have riled those on the left as well as the right. It didn't happen.
Why the "ancient" history you may ask? Well with all the current uproar over Trump by the Dems and them giving Obama a pass. It's as if he was not corrupted by big moneyed interests. It's Dems not wanting to reveal his culpability.
It's both major parties with those in office having been corrupted by the interests they "serve".
My hypothesis: Force all to resign en masse. Then have all those running for office make a pledge not to accept any big moneyed contributions. Once elected enact legislation banning big moneyed contributions in the electoral process.
If that happened then there's a chance to begin solving the other major problems and issues we face. That won't happen as long as our current electoral process remains in place and the current crowd of miscreants continue doing their daily misdeeds.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
1
1
