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| John Boehner, U.S. Speaker of the House and Leader of Evil |
From my perspective as a middle class American, the people I had no choice but to vote into office (both Republicans and Democrats) are more of a threat to my way of life at the moment than any leader in another country. They seem bent on dismantling my world, piece-by-piece, starting with my job. The recent sequestration cuts have hit me directly. I'm facing the loss of a paycheck, which will affect how I budget my money and live my life. I'll feel fortunate if I come out of this in a few years with my job still in place. I wouldn't be surprised to see the program at which I work go away altogether, even though it successfully serves thousands of children and families across the United States, and makes a positive difference in their lives.
The bad guys aren't nameless people from a foreign land who don't speak English well. The bad guys were born and raised in America, and they were elected by us. The bad guys are men and women who are so far removed from every day American life that they have no idea what it's like to live paycheck-to-paycheck or have only enough savings to get them by for one or two months. They are people are have no financial stake in the outcome of the decisions they're making. They are people who no longer care about serving the middle and lower class citizens who elected them, but only care about furthering their own agendas based on beliefs that no longer fit a 2013 society.
The sick and sad thing is that we have built a political system in which we have no real choices. We can't elect individuals who would truly represent us anymore. The system is twisted so that only the wealthy or connected can run for office. Sure, a "middle class" person slips through now and then, but look closely and you'll see the strings attached to his or her arms and legs as wealthy backers manipulate them into doing their bidding.
It's hard to take Hollywood movies seriously when they have North Korea invade Washington D.C. and have a super cool good guy come to the rescue. No, I don't want North Korea to win, but at the same time, I'd like to see all the John Boehners and others be pushed out a few windows. I'm tired of them making my life miserable. I'm ready to see them pay, even if it's only a fictionalized version of them. I don't give a rip about seeing North Korea pay. That's what makes blow-em-up action movies fun. We want to see the bad guys that threaten our daily lives pay. So come on Hollywood. Make me a movie about the Senate and House taking a major hit and the U.S. having to start completely over with new rules. Maybe a nice political uprising with the working poor and middle class taking over for a change. We're smart. We know what needs to happen. I'd like to see that movie. Heck, I'd like to live that life.
You're right about all of it. They're out of touch, they aren't affected by what they're doing, and we don't really have any say in who we elect to office. It's either rich guy #1 or rich guy #2. Well let me think about that for a minute. Which one will represent me the best. Neither!
ReplyDeleteOh and I'd pay to see that movie too.
Yep. Neither represent us @Sully. So how do we get them out and get someone in who can? That's the big question. See @Donald's suggestion about a real people's revolution in his comment below. ;-)
DeleteThe system is so broken when an elected official has virtual autonomy to do whatever he or she wants to do to service themselves once they're in office.
DeleteHow do we get a system in place where a) a broader spectrum of our population can run for high-office, and b) they'll serve the electorate the way they're supposed to?
Those are rhetorical questions because I'm not sure it's possible.
Great post! I totally agree with you. I wish we could just boot them all out and start over with people who know how to work together. I'm so tired of all the political nonsense. We're always in crisis because of those buffoons!
ReplyDeleteThanks @Michelle! You're right. We're in this mess because of those buffoons. I think that will be my word of the day. :-)
DeleteOust the buffoons! Oust the buffoons!
DeleteAnd buffoonettes!
DeleteI think we're all tired of the political BS in Washington. Does anybody feel like they're being represented these days? Not me. I keep hearing about how they want to cut things I care about or tax me more. They don't listen to what I really want. I'd pay more taxes to keep certain things going. But the War Machine ain't one of 'em. I want my dollars going to help people who need them.
ReplyDeleteSame here @Grey Goose. I'm OK paying taxes, but I'd like my money to fund things that help people, not destroy them. I'd also like a say in what gets cut. Across the board cuts like the sequestration cuts are idiotic. They're hurting programs that were already having a difficult time maintaining high levels of service.
DeleteAnd when was the last time we were even in a war that we were "supposed" to be in? Like, 1774? Government aid budgets slashed and programs cut so we can spend trillions of dollars of conflicts we shouldn't even be in in the first place. We already have the most advanced military in the world, and enough nukes to blow up Mars. But our schools are falling apart and millions are without healthcare.
DeletePriorites, people. Priorities!
Well said, @Goose!
I'm not an American, but I can feel just as strongly about our own government here in the UK. It seems that those at the TOP are getting the best the world has to offer. We used to call them the Upper Crust, but those at the bottom are getting even less and paying more (percentage wise) of their income just to keep going. Perhaps God will send a deliverer and bring a 'real' people's revolution: a Fair Society that will defend the cause of the weak, the feeble and those who can't get themselves out of the holes they've gotten themselves into. Has anyone ever really sad down with the Koreans and asked them what their beef is with the West? Maybe we could do something to help them become members of the worldwide community who think about people before politics.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to have someone from the U.K. weigh in on this topic @Donald! You said it correctly. Those at the bottom are getting less and paying more. Something has to give, and it scares me to think of what that's going to look like when it does. We need a "real" people's revolution!
DeleteGood to hear from a Brit, @Donald! You make an excellent point. There's too much wealth and power at the top. And when things get top-heavy, they fall over.
DeleteThere are two new movies: "Olympus Has Fallen" (out now), and "White House Down", which comes out this summer. Both are about attacks on the White House. I don't know who the attackers are, but it makes me wonder if they were going after Congress. Instead, all they got was Gerard Butler and Channing Tatum. Bummer.
ReplyDeleteYou changed the look of your blog. I like the colors!
ReplyDelete@Steven I'd totally see those movies if they were going after Congress! Ha!