The simple fact is that we, as a society, have outgrown the system, and you are witnessing it crumble under the weight. We've become too diverse and demanding; too dependent upon a government body (and less dependent on ourselves and each other) to pave the way to "happiness." With that, we have willingly handed over our rights and personal freedoms to an entity that is not only incapable of granting our collective wishes (because "we the people" can't even AGREE on what we need/want), but also not interested in benefiting anything outside of itself(a reflection of human selfishness as a whole). We have given too much responsibility to our governments because we can't seem to take responsibility for ourselves and our own actions. We have sacrificed our right to make decisions and solve problems amongst ourselves because we have given that authority to our governments to make decisions and solve our problems for us; so that we wouldn't have to live with our own consequences. Well, what happens regardless--is that we ultimately have to live with our consequences. When we are not happy with those consequences, the government becomes the scapegoat, and we complain that we are powerless. Obama is not to blame. Bush was not to blame. The government is not to blame. Who is? First, take a look in the mirror, and then go outside and take a look at your neighbors.

Life is a reflection of itself at all levels. If you observe the way things work on one level, you can be sure it works that way on all levels. Why do politicians lie? Because we all lie. Why are government entities selfish, greedy and corrupt? Because we are all selfish, greedy and corrupt. Why is there a lack of humanity in ruling bodies? Because there is a lack of humanity in the collective humanity. Our economic situation is a reflection of what happens when we the people sell our souls to capitalism and consumerism; the pursuit of "material happiness." It's all about "me," and who cares what happens to "you," at least I got my "piece of the pie." If you really thought that a nation built on financial gain and monetary power would ever stand the test of time and work to benefit all, you are truly lost. The priority becomes financial gain and monetary power; not human prosperity.

Before you change the world, you must change the self and lead by example. BE on the inside a reflection of what you wish to see on the outside. The more people do this, the more we turn ourselves and our nation toward higher ground. Until we learn how to bring humanity to the forefront of our daily personal lives, we will never have a humane body governing over our daily personal lives. And THAT, I doubt will happen overnight; or even within our children's generation. All we can do now, at this moment, is set the example for them to grow from, and that ultimately will determine how the next moment and the next generation defines itself. Things only get worse before they get better because we as a whole insist on hitting rock bottom before we reach for the light at the top. It's never too late (or too soon) to start reaching.

Vocabulary words for this lesson:

Main Entry: hu•mane:
1 : marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals
Main Entry: com•pas•sion:
1: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it
Main Entry: con•sid•er•ation:
1 : continuous and careful thought
2 a : a matter weighed or taken into account when formulating an opinion or plan
b : a taking into account
3 : thoughtful and sympathetic regard
4 : an opinion obtained by reflection
Main Entry: re•flec•tion:
6 : a thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation
7 : consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose
Main Entry: thought•ful:
1 a : absorbed in thought: MEDITATIVE
b : characterized by careful reasoned thinking
2 a : having thoughts: HEEDFUL
b : given to or chosen or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and wants of
others
Main Entry: golden rule:
1 capitalized G&R : a rule of ethical conduct referring to Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31: do to others as you would have them do to you
2 : a guiding principle

P.S. What does all of this have to do with politics? EXACTLY!

Lets get something straight. Why do we even vote anymore? Politicians are in it for themselves not to help us. Really tho why vote? It doesn't matter who wins because they all have the same intentions. What would happen if no one voted? It would show that we have lost confidence in the government. But we get so caught up apathy that we don't do anything about it. They have failed whether it be Obama or all the presidents before him...they have all failed. So what are you going to do about it. Time to wake up my friends.

I'm seeing this from an average person's viewpoint. The post office seemed to work, in its time.

I'll touch on some of the other points people have made in this thread. Capitalism seems to be destroying this country faster then socialism is. I'm sorry if that offends you but that is the way I see it. I have watched people I know, and now my family faces the destruction health bills has in this economy. We own our home, we own three vehicles, we're not rich but we get by. We're not living of the government we pay taxes. The government lives of of us, the people in this thread. It's impossible to escape taxes.

The email was a response to making public health-care, let's not play coy and ignore why this email was sent out. I truly believe in my heart that every one in this country deserves equal health care. The capitalist system cannot supply me with that. If you wanna talk about a fail beyond measure, look at the market in this country, and at the economy, and the billions and billions of dollars we've thrown away to corporate interests and banks.

The government was set upon this earth to better the lives of it's citizens, they should be beholden to us. I read the constitution. I respect it, it was a brilliant piece of legislation. But I don't see it in practice. I see the average person being screwed by government and corporate interests. The very fact that the corporations own our government becomes more and more apparent to even the most deluded of us by the passing day. You can't tell me that the government is so much worse at running things then the free enterprise system. Between the choice of thew two, I'd have to pick the government. At least the government has some regulation.

I believe if the government was responsible for our well being, as I think they were intended to be, we'd see a better ran system when it came to the fda, and the medical industrial machine. You can't tell me the insurance guys are here to help, I know better, I've been here.

what I fail to see in these arguments is a sensible line of what exactly we should have. I'm not against you making it filthy stinking rich, I salute bill gates, but we have to have a fundamental platform from which to build ourselves from.

If people had the ability to play their lives out without gambling on disaster we'd have a more balanced system without the ups and downs I see caused. The average person out here, the middle class, we're a dying breed, and we know it. There is the slimmest chance that after they get done screwing and milking us dry, we might have some form of health-care backbone in this country. We're not drinking kool aid, we know better. No one should believe that a politician is gonna save them, but there's a chance that one sliver of something useful might come out of this....

And yes my vote does match my words I voted green party and independent. Call me whatever label you cna apply, if I get health-care of of these #holes, I will wear the label proudly.

For some reason we unite behind the President that we vote for, quite often anyways. There were diehard Bush supporters, there are diehard Obama supporters.. The President could run the country into the ground and destroy the country, and at least 30+% of the population will still cheer him on, if only to save face.

Congress however...

Is generally hated by everyone. Regardless of your party. I voted Republican the first time, hated them all. Voted Democrat the second time, hated them all. (there was never a third party option for congress or senate, which i found odd..)

During Bush's last year in office, Congress had an approval rating of 20%.

After Obama was elected, that rating actually dropped to a historic low of 18%. *In July of 2008 Congress had a 13% approval rating from Gallop. 13% !$!% percent! .. and this was BEFORE the bailouts!!!

Americans HATE their government, and yet we vote them in, and I wonder why.. And then I remember..... for the most part, there are NO other options. Like I said, I voted for each party once, and each time there was no third party. For the President I may protest, I voted for a third party..

Something has to be done, but the Powers That Be (2 parties) are so ingrained and powerful, so much money, promises, power and influence.. honestly, what CAN be done?

*edited addition of additional research

[edit on 10/29/2009 by Rockpuck]

I tell you, the solution is in my ebook, free to read and linked in my sig.

Bypass them on the internet!

SO how has all of those PRIVATELY OWNED banks and investment houses performed OP,
I'm curious???

Cause it sounds like a call to give um back their freedoms so that they can continue being so.... fantastic - outsource our jobs and hoard their money in an "exotic" bank account so they don't have to pay taxes.

I hereby nominate AIG for POTUS and Congress.

I like it

"Don't Tread on me Vote AIG"