by Joni Greever

Created on: January 23, 2009

Although our system is representative of the people, lobbyists with their money and gifts (aka bribes) have taken a real toll on our system. This isn't the way it's supposed to work. We had a president for the last 8 years who made decisions by his 'gut feelings' - not by carefully weighing the pro's and con's or by what was right for the country, let alone what we thought. He broke laws right and left, yet not a finger was lifted to rein him in. The U.S. government has turned into a mockery, run by the big corporations and their interests.

"The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right..." Thomas Jefferson

The problem is that those elected almost immediately turn their backs on their constituents. They are caught up in the webs of special interests who either dazzle them with perks or threaten to withhold campaign money (perhaps even worse) when election-time comes around. The reason I say "perhaps even worse" is that I find it a little hard to believe that virtually all the politicians seem to ignore what we want or need in favor of the Big Guys. Why are they so easily had? There has to be a few people with guts and morals in government, who say, "No, thanks," to big business. Where are they? Could it be that the powers-that-be scare them into compliance?

There are times letter-writing and phone calls to your representatives will help, but look at the bank bail-out: citizens were at least 50 to 1 against it. There was a feeble attempt to look like they wouldn't pass it, but ultimately it did. What gives?

We have to exercise our rights put forth in the Constitution of the United States. Well, first President Barack Obama needs to gives back to us the rights the Bush/Cheney cartel took away during their spree.

The best thing to come out of this past 8-year nightmare is people have come out of their lethargy. They sat up and noticed what was going on in Washington. They realized, Hey! Wait a minute!

The faith and hope put into Obama's presidency won't stop with the man himself. We now understand more of what it takes to be a citizen of the country we love and that is our participation. It is a right of being a U.S. citizen that we hold our representatives to what they promised in their campaigns; we have the right to remove them from office if they don't comply; we have the right to make our voices heard.

Roll up your sleeves. There's work ahead!

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