“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” – Luke 23:34
After selling papers for a period of years, the key to my success is a simple formula: Smile, never go negative about a customer or a vendor, and never discuss anything controversial.
Still, I have decided to break my neutrality and give my view on the midterm election. I considered myself a moderate American. I embrace and tolerate all points of view whether I agree or disagree. I do not believe that all Republicans are greedy capitalists who don’t care about anything but the all-mighty dollar, and I don’t believe that all Democrats are for the working class.
Yet as an outsider, it appears to me that American politics has become nothing more than high-stakes panhandling. It’s all about raising money to stay in office, or using the office as a platform to advance higher ambitions. Even though I sell newspapers, many of the people I share the streets with are bankers, high-powered attorneys and lobbyists. They are here in Washington because this is the place to get government handouts. I am not against capitalism. But how is this so much different than begging?
In my opinion, politics is a necessary evil. Without government there would be lawlessness and anarchy, so some semblance of a government is needed.
The beautiful thing about America is that we get a chance to vote. Many who came before us valiantly died so all Americans could go to the polls and vote for someone who spoke for the majority of Americans.
Two years ago it was wonderful to see democracy in action. We elected someone so different from the presidents who preceded him.
Now we have the midterm elections and we again will test the democratic process. But thanks to growing corporate influence and a Supreme Court decision earlier this year that opened a floodgate for new corporate spending on elections, it will be harder than ever for the process to work. It seems like corporations influence everything from how we live to how we think. Even the news we read is created by corporations. It’s hard to believe it’s not shaped by the interests of shareholders and advertisers.
If you are really cynical you can even wonder whether any of these corporations are helping fan the flames of division and hate. It is one thing to oppose the policies of a sitting president; you have four years to vote for another president. But it is another thing to ratchet up the contempt for a president because he wants to implement policies you don’t agree with.
To question Obama’s citizenship or imply he is Hitler because he wants to change the health care systems so all Americans can get reasonable treatment is beyond malicious.
Using corporate money to encourage polarizing figures as Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck brings out the worst in this country. It makes me remember the days when fear and intimidation were directed against people who held the “wrong” point-of-view.
By the time you read this, the votes in the midterm elections will have been cast. I hope they were not cast in anger for closed-minded people who want to turn back the clock.
