After reading a Huffington Post blog I got to thinking: How does a wealthy country have a revolution?
No, I'm not talking crazy here. We don't need violence, or guns, or a forcible overthrow of the government. Overall, things aren't bad. However, the overall system is broken and if the American people want the best for their country they need to understand this.
I feel most of the Tea Party people are idiots (sorry, but while some of the ideas they espouse seem nice, think critically on them.... i'll take socialism over a plutocracy if it comes to it) but they at least have the guts to admit that the Republican party isn't going to do anything to help move their ideas forward.
The progressives haven't realized this yet. They seem to think that the Democratic party is going to pull itself away from the corporate trough and actually be, well progressive. It isn't going to happen.
The reason is this. Politicians are in politics to be in politics. Oh sure, they believe they know best and can help, but right now the argument shouldn't be over "big" government or "small" government. It needs to be over SMART government.
Efficiency is not the goal, but it IS part of the overall solution. We need to merge many of the various governmental agencies into powerful watchdogs over whatever sector they watch. This includes the government itself in my mind.
NPR had a story a month or so back about how part of the problem with the derivatives is that 2 different agencies thought the other agency was watching the banks. It "slipped" through the cracks.
One congressman attempted to merge the two agencies, but it failed because that meant one of the committee chairmen would lose an agency to oversee.
Political power once again trumps the greater good.
This sort of thing is RAMPANT in all levels of government, but most noticeable, and concerning at the national level.
Merging agencies, giving them real power and authority, and, good lord, possibly voluntarily limiting certain rights, would be steps in the correct direction.
It will not happen until we change the overall political system, and I'm sorry, that is going to take a peaceful revolution which I think we as a nation are too rich and lazy to partake in.
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2 comments:
"Overall, things aren't bad. However, the overall system is broken..."
Heh, I think you're contradicting yourself.
I agree we have too much bureaucracy with overlapping agencies, but this is a normal problem for governments of any age, style, or position in the conservative/progressive spectrum.
My point being the system isn't broken in the sense we need a revolution to replace it. It's broken in the way it needs a new tire or oil change or something. And that sort of change can happen within the system. No need for pesky revolutions.
'"Overall, things aren't bad. However, the overall system is broken..."
Heh, I think you're contradicting yourself.'
Heh, yes and no. Darn blog & stream of consciousness typing.
Overall, things aren't bad for the average person, it IS a rich country we live in.
Our political system is horribly broken and while I'd like to believe a few tweaks could change things, but that would require those in power to relinquish some of that power.
Sorry, I just don't believe that will ever happen. Not on a large enough scale.
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