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Lauren Anderson about 1 year ago | 1 response    

Or how about we take away their gas cards and other perks? How about politicians get a paid a median wage so they can have some concept of what it is like to be an “average” citizen. But really as long politicans come from the wealthy elite, it doesn’t matter if we pay them or not. They are not their for a job. It’s all about money, but not whatever silly salary we are paying them in the first place.

My sister and I were discussing similar topics the other day. I think we need to figure out ways to reduce the power of lobbies over politicians. I don’t have an immediate solution to offer but I can’t stand that our government no longer even pretends to be representational. There has got to be a way to disconnect the big money from the system or we’re screwed.

I came across a suggestion at slashdot suggesting that someone create a web application/service where “citizens” could pool money together on various topics and bills that could then be used to say as citizens to a politician, “You want $50,000 for your re-election campaign? Then maybe you should vote our way on that issue.”

My initial reaction was, “What a great idea. We finally have a way to take massive corporations on.” Until I thought about it for a minute. To implement such a system is all but throwing our hands in the air and admitting out loud (as opposed to the wink-wink-nudge-nudge we are doing now) that the system is completely corrupt and without chance of salvage.

And what about the copout of congress cutting session short this week so they can avoid voting on the drilling issues? It doesn’t matter what side of the issue you are on, it should be appalling that your elected officials would simply avoid the “tough” questions by taking a 6 week vacation.

Okay end rant, I have too much else to do and I’m not doing this topic justice right now.