I am in the process of reading this fantastic book. It is clear, easy to read and understand and it is riveting! It is about how we got into this mess (current political and economic conditions). More importantly it is about how we can make changes to rectify the problem (s).

It talks about dependence corruption. Normal caring fine people are encouraged to take on the task of funneling the people they take care of into the hands of large corporations. They receive in return certain monetary fees for services rendered, like a speaking engagement, etc. (Example: a pharmacological company pays Doctors large amount for speaking engagements etc.) The implicit or explicit expectation is you get more people using their products or services. After a time, that fine person becomes dependent on receiving this large sum of money and now depends on it for their improved lifestyle.

Or corporations pay big money into political organizations to help front the politicians to win the election. The implied or explicit expectation is they will get favors in legislation.

So now, our public servants do not serve us, they serve their wealthy benefactors. Well, we’ve known that a long time and we allowed it to happen, because (for a lot of reasons). It seems a lot of time and energy to keep track of what is going on. We take advantage of the media handing us bits of information about how we should vote.

What would happen if we removed the connection of big money and people who take care of us from the election process?

Right now, we idlely sit by and allow them to add rules, laws and processes that protect them, not us into the governmental system. They are Pork barreling and stuffing bits of law into unrelated laws that would easily pass. It is happening all the time. And for the most part we watch the telly, grumbling about the stupidity and don’t know what to do about it.

We are now dependently complicit, because it costs more time and energy to pay attention and make informed choices.

Another example of dependent complicity: I hear on the news that we need to support products made in America, or we need to buy environmentally healthy products. I decide to vote with my wallet. Then someone gives me a Wal-Mart gift card. I am not happy with their way of making profit by forcing poor people to work for low wages, off in some third world country. I make a few queries on the Internet and cave in because there is soo much information out there. Oh, well, I say to myself. The card is already bought. Just this once. What can a person do against something so big. Etc, etc, etc.

Now, I need to find a better way. What if a lot of like minded people created a volunteer list of important things they had done good research on and we all shared our information with anyone who wants to know! Websites, wiki type sites.

It could happen!!  Any comments on what you think and feel about these ideas? Are people already doing this? Inquiring minds want to know.