Government as Business

Government is not a business and attempts to run government as a business, I think are misguided. The goal of business is to make money PERIOD. Sure, there may be a few rules that work for both but they are in no way the same thing. Ideally, in a free society, the number one role of government is to protect our freedoms. Government should provide a good national defense (not a damn empire thank you). It should also protect our weakest and most at risk citizens, those who cannot take care of themselves. This is a true measure of a great society. Instead of saying, "Government is the problem, not the solution" (Ronnie Raygun), we should realize that ALL of us ARE the government. Thus we take responsibility for our problems. This entails a few things that are completely lacking today. Informed citizens (not mindless consumers) who know they can bring about real change and reform. A functional education system that creates informed citizens is now all but non-existent. A true free press that is unafraid to point out shortcomings, corruption and conflicts of interest. We now only have a handful of powerful conglomerations that parrot the party line without asking uncomfortable questions.

In fact, we now have the business model applied to government. The recent Debit Ceiling deal is proof. Who gives a shit if some needy people are tossed under the bus? We got a deficit problem! It has to be fixed NOW! Rich corporations buy with pennies the circus in Washington and make millions in tax cuts and deregulation. They use the infotainment (used to be news) industry to remind us this is the only way (and oh by the way you are free). The most important thing in business is making money and not protecting rights, taking care of the weak or making informed citizens. Look at what we got now.

We have essentially a one party state, the conservative party. There are two wings the center right, known as the Democrats and the far right, the Republicans. This makes up our so-called choice. The system does not allow for any other party to get a foothold in Washington. There is a slight exception in the Tea Party. These guys and gals are to the right of Genghis Khan. So the choice is center right, far right and extreme right. The left is all but dead in this country leaving control of the political dialogue firmly in control of conservatives who think the free market / business model is the answer to every problem.

Here we are with massive deficits (have we already forgot the bank bailouts and ongoing wars?). The economy is still in the tank and if there is any change, it is for the worse. All the jobs we shipped over seas (thank you both parties) are not ever coming back. Those over 50 cannot find work now. The safety nets are being dismantled along with our middle class. Meanwhile... those at the top are doing far better than just ten years ago, profits are up and no new taxes!

Fixing Problems...

A short entry. It is easy to point out problems but solutions are a bit more slippery. Waiting on Government or continuing to drink the Free Market cure all Koolaid is not going to get it done. We better start thinking for ourselves some and asking a lot more questions. It is not hopeless!

My goal writing about the failed Drug War in Mexico and other issues is basically to raise awareness. I'm not sure what else I can do and I find that sad. Why does something like the so called War on Drugs, an abysmal failure, continue year after year and decade after decade? I think we get into a kind of stasis. We simply accept things as they are, not the way we think they should be. Sure, I sign an occasional petition on line but feel that's weak. I could write for days about all of the challenges we face but choose not to at the moment. We hide in our day to day lives going through the unending routines ignoring (at our peril) important things like the reality the planet is getting warmer and all the bad that comes with higher temperatures. We watch TV news (infotainment) buying into the fantasy that the latest sex scandal, high profile murder case or little missing white girl are really newsworthy events requiring national attention. Nothing else is going on right? No, let's don't talk about both political parties on their knees servicing bankers with trillions of our tax dollars. Let's not think of the tens of thousands of unnamed dead civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. We better not look for connections between Depleted Uranium ammo Gulf War Syndrome and skyrocketing Iraqi deaths from cancer. Watch here for free. Little missing white girls are bad but what about the children sold as sex slaves or forced to serve as child soldiers? Read more please. Daunting problems for sure but not with out hope.

Now, I'll switch from We to I.

I CAN be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, blog facebook and in person.

I CAN raise awareness.

I CAN take a few minutes to research what I buy. Where and how is it made? It is not perfect but a good place to start.

I CAN reach for solutions and not rely on Machiavelli Politicians who promise "change" year after year and really change little more than their underwear. Let Washington play games, fixing problems is up to us...

I CAN think locally. There are plenty of problems where I live and I can do more about them.

That's five things I thought of on the fly. Now... What will you do?