by Lisa Cara

Created on: August 29, 2009   Last Updated: August 31, 2009

I think most Americans believe that the United States is a real democracy. I, however, do not. In a democracy, everyone has a vote, and the majority vote sets the course of the issue voted on. Technically, we all have the right to vote, for President, Representatives, sometimes on local tax issues and such. But truthfully, the majority of laws, taxes, and issues needing resolved for the country to function are voted on by our chosen representatives sent to Washington to look out for the peoples best interests. Logically, the people send the candidate they think will best serve them.

The problem, in my humble view, is lobbyists-mostly funded by individuals and groups to see that their interests are served-are not representatives for the people overall and have our elected representatives ears. Campaign contributors buy our representatives by funding their campaigns-it is exceedingly costly to run a campaign as it demands public exposure using all media available to sway public opinion and influence the vote. Many times these campaigns are mudslinging gossip fests because the public is far more likely to remember the bad things about a candidate than any amount of good. Politicians are largely gifted salesmen-no different than an automobile salesman-they know what the constituents of their jurisdiction want to hear-during their bid for election. Once the coveted position is obtained, however, they are expected to remember who got them there, not the votes or the voters. Further all those lobbyists are in DC, in our representatives faces, pleading for support of their employers interests.

To further these interests and the personal interests of the representatives, bills are drafted to enact laws and legislation. True, all of our representatives have the opportunity to vote on these, and thus democracy is claimed to be alive and well. Except, bills are bundled packages to be passed or failed as a whole. 'Things' get added to, or changed, to a bill until, often it is a monumental task to read the entire package, understand all the ramifications, let alone decide if the desired portion of the bill is worth accepting sometimes very undesired components should it pass. Few Americans have the time, (nor the inclination), to dig up these bills through the internet, let alone other means, to actually gauge how well their representative is speaking for them. Truthfully, they would not see how many of these bills have anything to do with the public., let alone have an impact

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>