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February 19, 2006
Memo to those on the Left of Me
I just got home from a party one of my good friends threw - and just like any DC party, it was full of people with opinions. One of the things that came up with some of the old-school friends who are not involved with DC politics is the third party cry hasn't yet been put peacefully to rest. I am now going to address some of the frequent cries I hear from those to the left of me.
Section 1: Third Parties
Welcome to America. We're a Constitutional Representative Democracy. We are NOT a Parliamentary system. The system we're in was constructed for two parties - if three parties were going to be viable here, we would've seen it happen a LONG time ago. Parliamentary systems allow for many niche parties because all the little parties join forces to form coalitions where they all throw out what they believe in order to reach some kind of consensus that nobody is ever quite happy with. And every MP votes lockstep with their party, following the orders of the whip. Think of it as if there were a Tom Delay running every party. A fractured party system will place MORE power into the hands of a few elites, not less.
If third parties were going to work here, don't you think that perhaps there'd still be a Free Soil Party? How well did the Bull Moose work out? When was the last Federalist candidate for President? (Rufus T. King, 1840). Were you aware that Whigs used to mean more than what's sitting on top of Bob Ehrlich's head?
We have two parties because we have two large and inclusive parties. Both parties represent a wide interest - how else would free market capitalists align themselves with holy rollers? Last I checked, the SEC didn't open session with snake holding, nor did Pentecoastal churches lay off their staff to show a 1% increase in quarterly growth.
Section 2: Corporations
I am sick and tired of hearing about how "the Corporations" are destroying everything. Or perhaps "the establishment". "The Man". It's time to put down the Rage Against the Machine record and start looking at the reality of the world we live in. Corporations are business, and the business of America is business. Business is apolitical - a business doesn't care about who's in office - all that matters is that said business is profitable.
I am going to put the following sentence in bold to emphasis my point. Here goes:
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MAKING MONEY
Get that? That's because there is NOTHING wrong with making money. Money is good - I like making money. Money may be traded for goods and services. I work hard for my money. Does that mean that those who make more shouldn't pay more taxes? No! Does that mean that we should give massive handouts to the wealthiest 1% of our country in the form of tax breaks that then force the cutting of social programs that benefit everyone else? NO! If you make money, you should pay taxes. But you should still make money! Please - make money!
I'm not saying that aren't evil companies, far from it. There are plenty of businesses that treat their employees like shit, sell rotten products to the consumer, and endanger the public. These companies should be dealt with, through legal channels and regulation. But the next time you decry the opening of that Starbucks, remember that even the part time Baristas are being paid a fair wage and receiving health insurance. Consumers can punish and reward in the marketplace, and for those occasions where the transgressions are behind the scenes then we should have government step in. Let the workers unionize! But for the love of G-d, STOP ACTING AS IF MAKING MONEY IS EVIL - IT'S NOT AND SAYING IT IS MAKES YOU SOUND LIKE AN OUT OF TOUCH MORON!
Section 3: Trade
We have a trade deficit. We need to catch up here stateside so that we are less effected by international climate.
But at the same time, there's something very important to realize about global trade:
YOU DON'T BLOW UP THE GUY WHO REPEATEDLY GIVES YOU MONEY
Why? Because it's bad business! If you kill your customers, you don't have any more money - and then you can't buy ice cream. And let's face it - EVERYONE LIKES ICE CREAM. See my point? This is the single place where our huge deficit creates some benefit for us (though I would still like to see it go away). Right now, China owns a MASSIVE amount of our trillions of dollar debt. They bought it up to get interest payments. If China lobbed a Nuke at us, do you really think they'd be able to turn around and collect on that? All of sudden - they're out trillions of dollars! If everyone benefits in some fashion, then the trade relation is maintained and peace follows. There are issues to be addressed - especially when it comes to losing American jobs overseas, but the basic argument remains. Why do you have such a problem with trade? Trade breeds peace! If we're buying flags, apple pie, and motherhood from China - what possible reason would they have for blowing us up?
So what needs to happen? How do we fix this?
Well if you believe in equal rights for all races, genders, religions, and orientations - get involved. Vote, Volunteer, Donate. If you believe in getting your interests heard by those in power - Vote, Volunteer, Donate. If you think that what you believe matters - Vote, Volunteer, Donate. The only way to make a change is to be involved - espousing "fuck the system" is going to accomplish nothing, and continue to hand the ball over to the side that doesn't represent you. We win by listening TO voters, not talking AT them.
Posted by MikeSager at February 19, 2006 2:53 AM
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Comments
What he said.
Cheers.
Posted by: VirginiaBelle at February 19, 2006 10:15 PM
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