It's All Still Bothering Me
Lately I've been plagued by thoughts about the need for reform within our government. Ever since my last blog I have trouble watching the news or reading the paper without thinking about all the things that are wrong with our so-called representative democracy.
First of all, why does the President get all the nice stuff? Our tax dollars pay for everything so that he can live in the lap of luxury. Sure, he shouldn't have to worry about cooking his own dinner or about cleaning his bathroom, but a little self-respect wouldn't hurt. He should probably do the dishes on occassion just to hands dirty and see what it's like on the other side of the White House lawn. Now, I'm not one who buys in to the idea that poverty ennobles, but having a little more in common with the most common American might help.
Which leads me to what I see as the sum of the problem. The President isn't really a representative at all. Neither are our Representatives or Congressmen or Governors or Mayors. Okay, the Governors and Mayors are there to govern and mayo, but they're also there to do the will of the people, or more specifically, the will of the majority. We live in a split society over most issues, and that's a good thing. It's a bad thing, however, that the people who run for and are elected to office seem to forget that it's the people who put them there.
Many of our government officials take a pay cut of about $5 million to enter office. They're successful lawyers or heads of billion-dollar companies. They're out of touch with the rest of the world. Buying a Bentley and hiring someone to clean your house will do that to you. Just ask Brett Ratner. And then go see X-Men 3. You'll see what I mean. These people aren't like you and me. They may have been at one time, but it takes millions of dollars to run for public office at any level higher than Mayor, and in larger cities like Los Angeles it takes millions as well. That's ridiculous. No federal, state or local official that I know is doing what I think is best. That's probably because I don't know any federal, state or local officials. They work for Enron and Exxon. Not for me. That's a problem.
"Government is not a solution to our problem. Government is the problem."
-Ronald Reagan
First of all, why does the President get all the nice stuff? Our tax dollars pay for everything so that he can live in the lap of luxury. Sure, he shouldn't have to worry about cooking his own dinner or about cleaning his bathroom, but a little self-respect wouldn't hurt. He should probably do the dishes on occassion just to hands dirty and see what it's like on the other side of the White House lawn. Now, I'm not one who buys in to the idea that poverty ennobles, but having a little more in common with the most common American might help.
Which leads me to what I see as the sum of the problem. The President isn't really a representative at all. Neither are our Representatives or Congressmen or Governors or Mayors. Okay, the Governors and Mayors are there to govern and mayo, but they're also there to do the will of the people, or more specifically, the will of the majority. We live in a split society over most issues, and that's a good thing. It's a bad thing, however, that the people who run for and are elected to office seem to forget that it's the people who put them there.
Many of our government officials take a pay cut of about $5 million to enter office. They're successful lawyers or heads of billion-dollar companies. They're out of touch with the rest of the world. Buying a Bentley and hiring someone to clean your house will do that to you. Just ask Brett Ratner. And then go see X-Men 3. You'll see what I mean. These people aren't like you and me. They may have been at one time, but it takes millions of dollars to run for public office at any level higher than Mayor, and in larger cities like Los Angeles it takes millions as well. That's ridiculous. No federal, state or local official that I know is doing what I think is best. That's probably because I don't know any federal, state or local officials. They work for Enron and Exxon. Not for me. That's a problem.
"Government is not a solution to our problem. Government is the problem."
-Ronald Reagan
posted by Selfish Brother at 2:44 PM
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