I used to hate politics.

[linazelle]

It was so boring.

The insincerity of politicians who would say whatever they thought would put them in the best light used to be a big turnoff.

Plus, I used to think, politicians don't make any money. Why, I wondered, would anybody want to be president or governor, etc. for such measly salaries? I'd chalk their desire to hold office up to power--not money. And that really did not hold my interest.

Since 2000, I have come to see that it's only about money. But the degree to which it is only about money increasingly astonishes me.

The information about developments, grants, contracts and plans that is accessible to politicians at the city, state and national levels is extremely valuable. Rewatching F911's segment about **'s dumping of Harken stock and financing by the Saudis, the idiot son knows one thing if nothing else. He says "...access is power."

So while a job may pay $200K, candidates spend millions because they stand to earn zillions by selling that information or catering to their financiers' interests for personal gain. This is mafia-level corruption.

*Sigh* (from sheer exhaustion at the scope of the problem.)

Packed phrases like "campaign financing" and bar charts showing the increasing funding summarize the problem but pretty much fly over the heads of most people--it sure flew over mine until 2000.

Now I know that there are many more people who are as unenlightened as I once was. If people knew, they would put a stop to this systemic disenfranchisement.

Discuss?

[firefox]

1. If you aren't outraged, you don't know anything.

Seriously, if you start talking to somebody and they find things anywhere near acceptable, you should know that they don't know anything with a likelihood they don't care or don't think they make any difference.

Of course the freeper types might know some things, but they are pretty much brain-dead.

[linazelle]

3. Oh I am outraged, I just want lots of company. nt

[knowbody0]

2. boring and corrupt

when you consider the $$$ spent on campaigning, on bull shit invasions and occupations...........and imagine if it were spent on something productive, say like feeding the hungry and creating jobs and clean energy, it is mind boggling.

[skids]

4. Tell me about it.

Not a day goes by when I don't think the exact same thought.

[linazelle]

5. Yes, the "$$$ spent". Our $$$ used to repay favors to financiers. n/t

[rainman99]

6. ME, TOO! I see that glazed look in others, now.

[upoceg]

7. i was just like you until around '99

once i woke up I went from zero to activist in no time flat. it also jumpstarted my interest in social policy concerning education.

basic stuff. teach kids critical thinking and a love of learning at a young age and:

1) they will make sure that they get all info about a given subject
and
2) they won't think it's boring, in fact, they'll be excited.

Granted, it means undoing 30 years of rethug social policy (clinton chinked that armor a good bit, actually), and hoping that we can find someone to put in charge with the insight and ambition of an FDR or even and JFK or RFK, but nobody said it was easy. So we do a little at a time and talk to anyone that will listen, while listening with anyone that will talk.

that's the other side. communication.

[linazelle]

10. Teaching the children is a great way to start...I definitely do that

Talk about the corruption every day. When watching F911 my niece seemed pretty bored at the finance talk. But then I reeled her in asking if she knew that the reason people were so horrified that day was because people were jumping out of windows. She was glued to the television after that.

But the talk doesn't stop there. My family will probably put my ** rants in my obituary if that's any indication of how much I communicate. :D

[upoceg]

15. that's exactly how to do it though

community and finding ways to interest people in the dullest of things on a visceral level. Up until about a 2 years ago, every time i had to face another person saying "yeah yr right, but really what can i do" or " yr right, but i don't get it, i don't want to pay attention to those things" i would rage for DAYS in the most sailor-esque language.
TUrns out i was feeling really useless. Friend of mine pointed out that i was thinking too big. one person at a time without thinking about the bigger picture and next thing you know 100 people are doing the same and then 1000 and the big picture is suddenly attainable.
Long post short...good for you as a teacher and parent. It's 2 things i hold in, really the highest esteem. keep it up and the ripples will give you the company that you're posting to find.

is that too sappy for an old punk rock kid?

[Esra Star]

8. Mr. Conyers is a politician. Support him.

I am sure there must be many, many supportable people
in all levels of government.
Remember never ever give up or the bad guys will
proliferate.

[linazelle]

13. I definitely support Conyers' work.

Still, money is an issue that I don't think people understand. I don't think they realize it's their money that's being taken away. I am going to work harder to talk to those I know about the money angle so they will take this personally.

[Esra Star]

21. Showing people that they do make a difference, is the challenge here

Civilisation is such a long slow process and getting
people to participate is hard work.
Thankfully with the internet and DU et al, progress
should be more noticeable.
Chin up.

[Wapsie B]

9. It's all about money and power

and who controls who can stick their snouts in the public trough. Leeches feeding off tax $$$.

[Ready2Snap]

11. "Welcome to the party, Pal."

--Bruce willis, "Die Hard"

[cynatnite]

12. The corruption seems to be so normal, too n/t

[linazelle]

16. Yes, people dismiss it like I used to dismiss politicians.

They say things like "they all lie." Well it's time they begin to tell the truth. Truth and accountability are disinfectants in politics. The bad guys won't flock to policitians if both are present.

[The2ndWheel]

18. Well you're going to need

"Well it's time they begin to tell the truth."

some serious cash to get that accomplished.

[linazelle]

20. I guess it's hopeless then. We already are taxed to death

and now we have to outspend those who make hundreds of times what we do? Never mind. <shaking head>

[The2ndWheel]

22. No, not hopeless

But the same problem will happen again if anyone is actually able to outspend those who make hundreds of times more than we do.

[KG]

14. 'This is mafia-level corruption'

linazelle knows what time it is.

[The2ndWheel]

17. Makes you think

"If people knew, they would put a stop to this systemic disenfranchisement."

Tried once. Killed a lot of people, and had slavery during their attempt. But at least they wrote some laws, that have led us to this point in history, where the same problems keep coming back, no matter how hard we try to fix them.

"*Sigh* (from sheer exhaustion at the scope of the problem.)"

Agreed. But don't you mean "challenge"? In America, it's never a problem. Because America faces those "challenges", and fixes them. Oh, wait..."The insincerity of politicians who would say whatever they thought would put them in the best light used to be a big turnoff." That actually fits better.

Yeah, it's the same crap, just a different century. Because power never goes away. It just moves around, or changes shape. It's a constant fight. Because even if you're able to knock the power structure down, into a thousand different pieces, eventually it builds itself back up. And then the process begins again. Then again, and again, and again.

"I'd chalk their desire to hold office up to power--not money."

There's a difference?

"This is mafia-level corruption."

I'm thinking it's bigger than that.

Makes one wonder what it's all for.

[linazelle]

19. "Makes you wonder what it's all for"

Yes it does. This is bigger than mafia-level corruption. It reaches deep and wide. And the spoils are the very fabric of this country.

One group wants to use the government for its personal gain without accountability and one party wants government for the people (I think that's us?)

Will we ever reach a compromise? Probably not. Just changes of power and changes in ideology depending on those who prevail.

[OneBlueSky]

23. funny, I used to LOVE politics . . .

back in the days, I actually thought that you could effect real change through the political process (i.e. "the system") . . . I worked for a Member of Congress, volunteered on numerous campaigns, and participated in an array of political actions . . . my BA is even in Political Science . . .

needless to say, those illusions were shattered long ago . . . the longer I live, the more I see, the more I understand that no such change is possible . . .

because "the system" belongs to THEM -- lock, stock, and barrel! . . .

[linazelle]

24. Now I guess we are drawn to politics like onlookers to a horrible accident

We can't turn away like it or not. No "move on nothing to see here" for me. I know what I'm looking at now having been thoroughly educated because of BushCo. We have to tell everybody we can about the "accident"--in gory detail.

[wli]

25. I've sort of always commented on politics

Stuff like Jeanne Kirkpatrick's bullcrap, Iran-Contra, October Surprise, Libya, Grenada, etc. incidents, stagflation, etc. during Reagan's reign of terror had me pretty solidly condemning these fascists at ages I was too young to remember. Then they gained control of all three branches of government via fraud despite my votes, tacitly granted dictatorial powers to the President, and turned the country into a theocratic corporate police state.

Now what?