Think About It Now

Politics Now

"It's vile...It's more sad than anything else, to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain because of a sexual addiction."
-- Rep. Mark Foley, on Clinton's escapades with
Monica Lewinsky

"I have no problem with adult pornography. People are entitled
to read it, watch it, see it in their homes or in public
accommodations. Where I have to draw the line is using
children for the excitement of those more mature people who
should know the difference and know better."
— Mark Foley, 2002 interview with NPR

If anyone other than a Senator (or otherwise powerful person) was chatting with someone he/she KNEW was 16 yrs. old with obvious predatory sexual innuendoes, it'd be a pedophile case. Jail time would be practically guaranteed. Anyone complicit or having knowledge of such action would also have responsibility.

Being foolish enough to be caught doesn't especially surprise me. That it is being reported with some vigor by mainstream media (MSM) does somewhat surprise me....nevertheless, screw the fact that Mr. Foley was a Republican. I doubt seriously the Democrats would fare much better. Better to look into how everyone is now spending all their time covering their asses. It's beyond obvious that more than a few people knew about this situation years ago. People elected by parents that rightly expect their children will be protected by their government.

Anybody besides me think about the fact that for every one the media catches there are many more that could easily be caught and manipulated by foreign intelligence sources that could then use it to their advantage...or how about something (a little) less nefarious (not to mention more likely), caught by virtually anyone with an agenda (i.e. every lobbyist on K Street), and then used to their advantage? Does this sound like anything like an organization similar to A.I.P.A.C. might be willing to capitalize on?

Take a closer look at what's going with the people elected and trusted to run the country in a manner that best serves the population as a whole. It could be argued that this is your responsibility.

The list of scandals involving politicians, money and influence is staggering. Personally, I could care less about sexual orientation (unless it involves minors), but I am concerned with the amazing levels of hypocrisy that is uncovered nearly every time something of this nature is revealed. It is soooo hard to find anyone in politics that represents me...or even fits the most basic of requirements I would impose on someone running the government.

Do the people in the House and Senate really represent you? Does the president? Do you feel you are getting what you expect out of government? Polls show that most people feel that this not the case. Do the people of the House and Senate represent a fair sampling of the social/economic, ethnic, racial backgrounds of the populous they are representing? I think not.

It has become more apparent than ever before that we now have a government run by the people most skilled at raising the money needed to be elected. The people that can hide the most dirty laundry while exposing the most of their opponents'. The people that want to obtain and keep power and will do anything necessary in this pursuit. Where in all of that are the people that want to represent you and do what is best for the country and its people? I'm not so cynical that I think those people don't exist, but does anyone feel that they are in the majority?

I'm not going to research this just now, but I've heard that a sitting member of Congress must raise at the very least $10,000 per week from the day they enter office in order to even stand a chance at being re-elected. Think about that for a minute. Think about how much time, effort and staff are needed for that kind of fund-raising. Think about how that time could be better spent working towards doing what you actually expected that person to do when you elected them. Think about where that money is coming from. Who has the most money to donate? Who do you think that elected official needs to spend the most time with? Who are they really beholden to?

How about this (just for starters)? Free (tax-deductible) air-time, print, etc. to anyone running for office (within limits and equal across the board to all). A ridiculously low cap (with all loopholes closed) on TOTAL funds available for election campains...eliminating all lobbyists. A lobbyist, as a point of fact, should be a person representing a block of voters...not a huge sum of political donations (and/or future jobs and/or paid speaking engagements). How about a close look by a fully independent agency or commission at voting trends of elected officials with regards to any and all income (political or personal).

Take all money out out the equation...let everything rest on the person running. Actually force everyone to run on their own merits. Want to bet on how much your chances to actually meet the person you plan to elect will increase? Want to bet on who those people will actually be working for then? Want to consider the amount of time and effort will actually be spent doing their jobs (remember that listening to the people they represent is actually a very large part of that job)? Want to bet on how many people will drop out of the process once they realize that finishing their political careers with six or seven figure jobs based on nothing more than their names and (voting policies) will no longer be possible?

It's past time to wipe the slate and start again.

It'll never happen...
...but what a country it'd be!! To have a country "of the people, by the people and for the people"...if only that could somehow be incorporated into the whole political structure!

posted by Steve @ 6:29 PM