Choices have Consequences
There is a lot of HYPE about a lot of things these days. People pick one side of an argument and select only the things that support their preconceived notions.
Today's thoughts are: Where have we come to as a country, and how did we get here. This is an enormously complex question, and there are no simple answers.
During the Convention of our founding fathers, there was GRAVE concern about the perils involved with ANY form of government, due to the possibility of corruption and the limiting of personal freedoms. This resulted in Bitter and Intense debate to "Hash things out".
After the smoke cleared, several compromises were reached to TRY to Insure Limited powers of the Federal Government, and maximum personal freedoms, by retaining local and State control of all functions NOT granted to the Central Government. (The Bill of Rights)
We do NOT have a Democracy, because of fears that a Democracy would destroy itself from within, (people demanding more and more FROM the Federal Government). They established a Republic, with 3 Distinct branches, to provide checks and balances. They went even further, and established two distinct legislative bodies. One body was elected by the people, (democracy), while the other body was appointed by State Legislatures, and responsible for maintaining State's rights. (A Double Edged Sword to LIMIT Federal Power, and Insure "Consent of the Governed")
In 1913, the 17th Amendment was passed, which changed the way that we select the Senate members, now being by popular vote.
The influence of Money in Politics, and the growth of our Federal government increased dramatically from that day on. POWER goes where the MONEY is, and nearly all Federal programs Benefit the Wealthy, no matter how they were SOLD to the public.
Take a look at the website below, and you will see the relationship of decisions made since that time, to things like the growth of government, increases in taxes, Government Spending etc.
When you look at the charts, ask yourself if the ramifications of various programs to our economy were worth it?
http://grandfather-economic-report.com/
When Government gains more POWER, it invites more CORRUPTION. When Government gets more CORRUPT, it seeks more POWER. This is exactly what our Founders were trying to prevent.
Ask yourselves is this where we want to go, or do we need to go back to what works?
What we are doing now is not FAIR to our children and grandchildren.
You may also be interested in the following link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventeenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
I welcome your comments, and feel free to share this.
Recent Comments
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I agree.Power corrupts. We need to put the power back into the peoples hands. This can be achieved only if the masses are informed properly. We must be watchful of bills and laws constantly being passes which chip away at whats left of our freedoms and rights as citizens. Then we must take action by petitioning our representatives and letting them know we are aware and that we care about the loss of our freedoms...We can not be complacent. Also, and In the meantime we should learn and teach financial literacy and how money really work and hot to keep it and make it work for us. Being that all of the benefits and rewards go to the wealthy we need to learn to be wealthy and even the playing field because the gap between the "haves and have nots" is growing at an alarming rate and that what keeps the rich powerful. Its about what you know and don't know and knowledge is power. Give the power back to the people where it once was and should be. Wealthy Affiliate is giving us the opportunity to do just that.
Great post and thank you for sharing. I wish you all the best.
Thank you. I wish the same for you. I should have added that refusing to exercise a choice, is a choice with it's own consequences. Voter abstinence and complacency, which your statements address specifically. The great thing about this site is the facilitation and encouragement of this interaction. In regard to making choices, we have the power, but thanks to government involvement in the education system we are being taught that THEY will provide for us. Check out the following link and use it to determine the validity of various premises, and the effectiveness of particular programs. http://theeducatedsociety.com/tag/bell-curve/