There are just about three weeks left before voters go to the polls to vote. I’m thinking some folks may be onto something when they talk about voting all the incumbents out.
I know that feeling. I’ve had it since I began voting at age 18.
When I consider the state of governmental affairs today, it seems more like the people we elected are working against us rather than for us. That’s why I’ve always been an advocate for term limits.
My high school civics classes taught me that this nation’s early leaders were people who had other things to do. Their livelihoods were the businesses they operated, not the government. They served the public because it was a necessity. And when they were done, they went back to their lives as private citizens.
Over time our government has been corrupted by those entrusted to represent the people. A few days ago, I talked with a former state senator who said the election process is supposed to be manipulated. He said special interest groups are supposed to designate and facilitate the election of specific candidates, regardless of the greater good.
That thought is scary.
The government of the United States has evolved into a structure that serves to perpetuate the special interests of the ruling class. And that ruling class has developed a professional class of public office holders whose jobs are to maintain the system that keeps them in power.
When I left college some 30 years ago, my generation was one that professed it would change the world. I remember during my early development as an advocate for civil rights and equality, the goal of the civil rights movement was not merely to gain access to government leadership, but to change it so that government works for all the people.
Many of my contemporaries went into public service. They all seemed to think they could transform government into something that would help people who previously had been politically disenfranchised.
But it seems like something happened.
One by one, at various levels of government, I’ve watched people I respected change, while the government they sought to change did not. I don’t know if it was the prestige or a sense of power, but they all seemed to crave remaining in public office. Few of them made any significant difference in the lives of the people they represented.
I think it’s time for another American revolution. If we want change, it won’t happen simply by changing the man at the top. We need total change. Change throughout Congress and the Senate. When government no longer functions for the people, it is our duty to abolish that government.
However, we shouldn’t think about a violent revolution like the first American revolution, so the other option is a revolution at the ballot box. According to the numbers of congressional and senate elections on the November ballot, American voters have an opportunity to elect more than 400 congressmen and just over 30 senators.
The former senator I spoke with earlier this week is confident that the Democrats will win a majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate. My fear is that the same professional politicians control both parties, so it doesn’t matter to me if the Democrats control Congress.
Any revolution at the ballot box in November should be conducted irrespective of political party. The theme is simple: throw all the bums out.
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