If America is truly a democracy, then why are our elected representatives going against the will of the people in the matters of health care and drug concerns? It cannot be denied that a majority of American citizens prefer to strengthen our free-market system and include a not-for-profit healthcare plan administered by our government called the "Public Option." Yet we are told that the U.S. Senate will not even give it consideration. I believe the reason is simple: greed.
Our elected representatives have turned their backs on the people of America to satisfy their excessive desire for wealth and power. In addition, the underlying corporate powers financing and driving this dissension are taking advantage of the religious and philosophical masses, who are either inclined toward emotional advances or are disadvantaged intellectually. Both honor and any sense of a moral compass have fled the halls of power in America, where there is no longer any shame.
I pray the people of America will wake up from their slumber of ineptness and remove those in power who would abide the pain and suffering of their constituents in trade for momentary satisfaction of their personal greed.
— Scotch LaSablonnière
Asheville
Defining the health care reform bill singularly as the public/gov’t option is being myopic. Lots of good things are in there.
It is not a done deal that the gov’t can provide the same care at a lower cost than the private sector. To this point, it is speculation.
Scotch, you have managed to capture the frustration of many Americans today. No longer are we a people united by common ideals—with a desire to form a more perfect Union; to embrace principles such as Justice, Peace, Security, Community, Liberty, and Posterity for all people. Instead, we have allowed ourselves to become polarized by special interests; weakened as a people because so many believe the myth that our elected representatives are serving the interests of “We the People.”
We are not a democracy. Indeed, I challenge anyone to find the word “democracy” in our Constitution. We are a republic that elect our representatives and, once elected, those representatives work to enact laws as they see fit. We are more accurately described as an oligarchy. Our only real recourse, when these representatives act against our common interests, is to vote them out of office. This one democratic action, the vote, is the only real voice most Americans have in our Government. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans are so disaffected or disillusioned, by the bickering between our politicians and misinformation from special interests, that they have abandoned their civic responsibility to cast an informed vote.
Our silence has led to our decay as a country. Where once, we considered the exchange of money for favor—a bribe; today, we look the other way and allow them to be called “campaign contributions.” “We the People” stand by and allow our supposed representatives to prostitute themselves for personal and corporate greed.
Our silence as a people has led to a smaller electorate; one more easily divided and manipulated by special interests. Interests that seek to pit us against each other; truly fearing an educated, informed populace that might come together, to seek compromise and demand that their politicians once again represent “We the People.” If you want to make this country a better place, we must stop fighting against each other and find common ground that can unite us as a people. Only then will our voice be loud enough to fight the money that rules our politicians.
I challenge each of you to start today by truly listening to those whose opinions differ from yours and seek the find the common ground. Remember the words of President Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” It is time to put aside the destructive ideology, “What’s in it for me?” and instead look to build those ideals that brought us together as a people—community, liberty, justice, security, peace and posterity for all. Begin by extending each other respect and civility too often lost in discussion nowadays. We must come together and lift our voices, once again, by becoming active in this process called politics. It is not just your right as a citizen, indeed it is our responsibility to each other as a nation. God Bless You All.
Q: If America is truly a democracy, then why are our elected representatives going against the will of the people in the matters of health care and drug concerns?
A: Because America is not a democracy, America is an Oligarchy which is “a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique”….the majority does not matter, money matters
*Please do not disregard this truth as conspiracy
The U.S. is actually supposed to be a Constitutional/Democratic Republic. Democracy is a very dangerous form of government where the ignorance an laziness of the majority can infringe the rights of the minority.
As long as corporations have the same rights as citizens, the rest of us are screwed…