Reply #41: Brilliant post

[davidthegnome]

I've been thinking along these lines for some time now. How can democracy prevail in a system where politicians can be legally bought? It is not mere coincidence that despite the public outcry against it, an enormous "tax relief" was extended for the wealthiest of Americans.

It's no secret that legislation is often passed on behalf of corporate giants. It is certainly no secret that most of our representatives within the government owe favors to numerous corporate types. The middle class - the poor, even the upper middle class, cannot financially compete with corporate types. A very small percentage of the whole, therefor, legally bribes and thereby controls a great many politicians - which amounts to basically the same thing as controlling government.

The media - long since bought by these same corporate types, are for the most part certainly not the allies of democracy. The free press is not free, if ever it was, it was before my time, born in 84. Were it otherwise, I'd be in school for journalism.

How do we change the system to restore democracy? How do we outlaw the practices that have for so long kept the "bargaining power" in the hands of the wealthy elite? I don't know. I don't think that - given the system's fundamental and obvious flaws, that we can alter it significantly from within. Mass protests, people willing to stand their ground for days, weeks, or even months if necessary. Millions gathered together for the purpose of reclaiming government "for the people". Perhaps.... perhaps not. It would be difficult if not impossible to organize such a protest. It would be difficult if not impossible to ensure that such a protest remained peaceful. Violent action of course, would give the powers that be the justification to unleash the military upon the populace. If they even require such justification.

The problem is obvious to most (if not all) of us. The solution, however... I'm not sure anyone knows what the solution is.