Our democracy cannot survive on spectacle. It survives on engagement, accountability, and public will. Let’s stop asking who’s to blame and start asking who’s willing to lead.
Bruce, I'd add another question. What are the solutions to the problems you're arguing about? For example, why aren't they talking about raising the minimum wage and taxing corporations who don't pay at least the minimum wage so that fewer working people don't have to work several jobs to feed their family and would not need SNAP benefits if they had a livable wage! Healthcare costs mean reining in the greedy pharmaceuticals by negotiating drug prices for tax incentives perhaps. Also put a tax on shares sold to investors so there is more incentive to use profits to strengthen the products and employees. Make sure AI complements the workers and makes them more productive and doesn't just replace them. Europe has some laws in that direction. In Solidarity.
I agree with those ideas and also many more that address Amerca’s too large and growing wealth gap and the imbalance of power that favors the ultrawealthy and large corporations. A primary cause of all of those is the political power of money and incumbency that results in kneeling and cowering politicians serving only their own interests and those of their donors. However, American democracy offers a solution. But only if we choose to collectively exercise it. The voice of the people through their votes. Too many fail to exercise that power or when they do make poor and uninformed choices. The solutions? Truth telling, civic education, and massive and effective voter turnout efforts. American governance is legitimized by the consent of the governed. Too many today provide their consent to an illegitimate, incompetent, and corrupt government either by making an uninformed poor choice or making no choice through civic disengagement. We the people, those of us willing and able to work the problem have to continue to step up to work on those solutions. Many are already engaged, but we need to keep recruiting, organizing, and activating more in the effort.
Bruce, I'd add another question. What are the solutions to the problems you're arguing about? For example, why aren't they talking about raising the minimum wage and taxing corporations who don't pay at least the minimum wage so that fewer working people don't have to work several jobs to feed their family and would not need SNAP benefits if they had a livable wage! Healthcare costs mean reining in the greedy pharmaceuticals by negotiating drug prices for tax incentives perhaps. Also put a tax on shares sold to investors so there is more incentive to use profits to strengthen the products and employees. Make sure AI complements the workers and makes them more productive and doesn't just replace them. Europe has some laws in that direction. In Solidarity.
Cathy,
I agree with those ideas and also many more that address Amerca’s too large and growing wealth gap and the imbalance of power that favors the ultrawealthy and large corporations. A primary cause of all of those is the political power of money and incumbency that results in kneeling and cowering politicians serving only their own interests and those of their donors. However, American democracy offers a solution. But only if we choose to collectively exercise it. The voice of the people through their votes. Too many fail to exercise that power or when they do make poor and uninformed choices. The solutions? Truth telling, civic education, and massive and effective voter turnout efforts. American governance is legitimized by the consent of the governed. Too many today provide their consent to an illegitimate, incompetent, and corrupt government either by making an uninformed poor choice or making no choice through civic disengagement. We the people, those of us willing and able to work the problem have to continue to step up to work on those solutions. Many are already engaged, but we need to keep recruiting, organizing, and activating more in the effort.