Democracy is a Contact Sport
Obama won, and I consider that a step in the right direction, but it merely represents an ever-so-slight opportunity for the citizens of this country to try and wrest some power and influence away from our current owners.
Corporations, and the super wealthy, are not going to lay down or go away. They are going to continue doing all they can to have government continue serving their interests. Money, and its influence, is deeply entrenched in American government. This is a simple fact of life. If we, the people, want any representation in this country, we are simply going to have to insist on it. We can’t just “vote for change” and then go home and hope for the best. The lobbyists are still in Washington.
So, what can we do? now that the election is over? I think the folks at november5.org have the right idea: we band together and insist that our representatives in Congress start representing OUR interests too.
The folks at november5.org have chosen universal healthcare as a top priority, and I think this is an excellent choice. The current free-market, for-profit healthcare system in this country is obscene. But if we sit idly by and let Washington “solve the problem” on their own, they are going to make decisions that favor all the current monied interests in the healthcare field. The result will not bode well for the great majority of people in this country, instead, it will end up being a Frankenstein of the current system. We need to insist upon a healthcare system that will work for all of us, not just the greedy and unenlightened among us. Many other countries have fine universal healthcare systems, we should too. But the people of this country are going to have to rise up and insist on it, otherwise it will never happen.
I’d like to encourage all American citizens, especially those who live in bodies that might need some decent healthcare one of these days, to visit the website november5.org. Take a look, have a listen, and see what you think. Remember, democracy is a contact sport.