Let's be honest, the American people are helpless against the government. The biggest reason why is the dreaded two-party system forced upon us, essentially taking away any of our real freedom to choose. This isn't about Republicans or Democrats, it's about trying to really figure out what the government does for us.
Every week I get a paycheck that shows a gross amount and a net amount. My employer deducts a percentage from the gross amount without my consent, and I have no input as to what happens to the money I earned. Apparently, that money goes to the government to fund projects and positions that I have no say towards, either. Furthermore, in what other scenario would I continue to give money to someone who made terrible decisions and blew right through it? If I gave my friend money on the promise that he'd improve my life, and then he spent it on 26 inch rims and a sex swing, I'd stop giving him money. If I paid a contractor to fix some pipes in my bathroom, and instead he installed a fish tank in my shower, I'd hire someone else and ask for my money back.
According to the system, I do have a say as to where the money goes when I vote every 2 years for Congress and every 4 years for President. So every couple years I get to chime in and the rest of the time I have to trust the politicians that represent the area in which I live? Digging a little deeper, I really only get to vote for 1 of 2 candidates--a Republican or a Democrat. Well what if I don't want to vote for either? What if neither represent my values? I'm a pretty reasonable guy, so why can't I find a reasonable candidate? Sure, you might think, "I'll vote for a third party candidate." In my best "Kang" (from The Simpsons), "Go ahead, throw your vote away!" It's only funny because it's true. If you prefer neither candidate, like many did in November 2008, what choice do you have? Vote for an independent who will win 4% of the popular vote and not claim one state? Or vote for the opposite of the guy you dislike more? Which of these is worse???
I get a letter in the mail roughly once per month from the RNC that includes a questionairre and an envelope for donation. I actually look forward to the letter now because I can't wait to see how ridiculous the authors have gotten with the questions. I don't have one in front of me to copy, but the questions are along the lines of, "Do you support Barack Obama and his plan to eat babies and kill kittens?" My favorite part of the survey is the final line asking for a donation with checkboxes next to each of the following choices: "$5,000," "$1,000," "$500," "$100," "$50," and "$0 and I wish for the Democrats to stay in power for another 4 years." That's actually true, and you can ask anyone that's received the survey to vouch for it. I even wrote a note back with the last survey stating that I'm embarrassed by the party and I won't contribute until it finds better candidates.
A lot of people compare our current state to early 1900's Germany, but they do so for the wrong reasons. The US in 2009 is not Nazi Germany (yet), but the American people are awfully reminiscient of a helpless Germany, post WWI. The Treaty of Versailles ravaged the country and made it so powerless that Adolf Hitler waltzed into power with ease. If our government continues to ravage us like the Treaty of Versailles, the people will revolt. We will be left so powerless, so helpless, that we will have no choice but to call for a revolution. We will vote for independent candidates. We'll vote in ethical candidates with values aligned to our own. And we will stop giving money to those in whom we do not believe. We will make a change, and the two major parties will not know what hit them.
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