Monday, December 5, 2011

Do The People Count?

Serious people always  talk about how important the people they govern are to the political process,  encouraging them to vote for the person or party of their choosing.  When the outcome of the election  is known and the leaders are chosen somehow the "people" are forgotten.  You remember the people whom were so important to the political process.

Once elected policies are enacted which benefit corporations, financial institutions and the wealthy leaving out the people you know are essential to actual governance.  Ireland's government enacted severe austerity programs which instead of helping to revive its economy crisis was exasperated causing another Irish migration.

After the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed the TARP  recovery bill bailing out America's banks not one piece of legislation was passed which helped the millions of people who lost their savings, pensions and the millions more who would lose their homes due to bank foreclosures.  Following the 2010 midterm elections in which the Republicans regained control of the House and  said jobs would be their number one priority  yet in the two years since they haven't passed a single jobs bill.   

Greece and its debt problems dominated the news this past summer and part of the fall resulting in the fall of one government to be replaced  by one which was willing implement austerity programs which will relieve people of their retirement savings, throw thousands out of work and raise taxes on ordinary Greeks. All because of policies put in place by previous Greek governments.  

And now its the Euro crisis which is effecting the entire European Union if normal course is taken the people other wise known as the voter will suffer most after policy changes are made.

Elections are held and the winners lauded yet the people who voted them into office  based on policies they wish to implement and promises made while campaigning disappear into the vast black hole of  forgetfulness. The real winners are the wealthy contributors and corporate lobbyists who exert far  more influence over a countries elected leaders them the average voter can even imagine.

Political leaders and their enablers forget one thing they be in the 1% but in reality 99% is a much bigger number and there are lot more of them; billions more en-fact. Perhaps they should remember that simple fact.  The people do count even though they believe the opposite. 

   

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