by John Amaruso
Does anyone see what is going on here? The fundamentals of our very democracy are eroding right in front of us. Slowly our basic human rights, access to our government, political mobility, our very essential right to vote is being taken away by the very forces that benefit off the suppression of the common person.
Since Obama’s election in 2008, conservatives, Republicans, special interest groups and corporations have done all they can in their power to assure another ‘Washington outsider’ (aka individual minded person) can never have the power to take away their power. Those who seek to exploit the many for the benefit of a few are threatened by the very idea of the people electing leaders who do not serve their interests.
This is all being done in independent, but by no means unrelated ways. Governor Walker in Wisconsin’s attempts to effectively strip Unions of their collective bargaining rights is an attempt to deconstruct the very fabric of the working class, limiting their ability to make an affordable wage, in turn leaving worker’s helpless to decide their own economic fates.
This has lowered the standard of living for union members and workers across the country. Once the wages for union workers are lowered, the market responds appropriately. Private employers no longer have to compete with the fair wages unions offer, thereafter they lower the wages of their own workers. This spiral down of wages decreases the livelihoods of millions around the country.
This growing inequality in America has been rising rapidly to the point where political cynicism runs rampant. Due to this new economic form of enslavement, people feel powerless to affect change even in their own workplace, let alone their own government. It has disillusioned millions across the country, as their will to vote has been undermined by their perceived inability to compete with the economic powerhouses who currently control our system.
The necessity of economic power has become so essential in today’s politics, it is disturbing. A dollar is the new vote and the value of that purchased vote has been steadily rising. With the Citizens United decision, unlimited and undisclosed campaign donations can be made by corporations and even foreign entities. This in turn blurs out any chance of a common person effecting change from their elected leader, as now even the most well intentioned of officials have to compete with this wave of cash polluting the political arena. Instead they ignore the needs of their community. It’s hard to see the masses over that large pile of money on top of your desk.
We now live in a system where two individuals, the Koch brothers, are legally allowed to donate over $400 million dollars to an election campaign. That’s $400,000,000. That’s more money than most of us could ever hope to see in our lives, yet is the price these power hungry fat cats are willing to pay to silence our voices in favor of theirs.
These two scenarios combined are a vicious cycle. By lowering wages, workers have less to spend, meaning less economic mobility, meaning less time, less resources. Less purchasing power, less opportunity to compete with the wealthy who buy off our politicians. By permitting the exorbitant expenditures by corporations to politicians, we have effectively said “your vote is no longer valid, please pay for your ballot here”.
Meanwhile Voter ID restrictions are being passed in multiple states, disenfranchising lower income families. The only legal way to vote in some of these states is to present a valid driver’s license. There are millions of people in this country who do not drive, let alone can even afford to buy a license. These potential voters are being suppressed, providing only more power for the wealthy to pick and choose their candidates.
Overall this is an extremely troubling phenomenon. This increasing trend of concentrating wealth to the top, has in turn concentrated political power to the top. It is a frightening day when a man like Sheldon Adelson, a virtually unknown billionaire, is able to donate, by himself, $100 million dollars to a candidate. It feels like we are living in the early 20th century America, with Tammany Hall and the political machines that dominated American politics.
It’s come to a point where President Obama, who had denied funding from corporations in his 2008 campaign for President, had to resort to despicable means just to simply stay alive financially against his pro business opponent. President Obama had attended more fundraisers in 2012 alone than President Bush did in his entire time in office.
Since the Democratic Party had vowed to take the moral high ground and reject any private donations from corporations, the party had been reduced to begging for donations from the public. Even in such degrading and humiliating ways, like having to ask couples who are getting married to instead of asking their wedding guests for presents, re route that money as campaign donations to Obama’s re-election staff.
These factors have created a perfect storm. A decrease in income for all, an increase in political mobility for a few and restrictions in voting access for many has diluted our democracy to a government of the people, by the people, and for the people… who can afford it. This election has shown what the American people desire. People over big money, compromise over tyranny, and transparency over secrecy. Progressive ideas such as the protection of inalienable rights like voting, freedom of expression and economic security have triumphed the fallacies of conservative mantra.
But just because Obama was re-elected doesn’t mean he has a clear and authoritative mandate to do whatever he pleases. We must continue to work to deepen and strengthen our democracy. We must prevent it from falling into the hands of those who seek to manipulate it for their own political gain. A democracy is only as effective as it’s people demand it to be. And for that, I say we demand much more.
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