I don’t pretend for even a minute that I understand US politics. It’s so different from the Westminster system I learned in school and understand from England and Australia. There is so much to know, so many factions that it’s difficult to even know who to support. The lines are so blurred it makes your head spin. Unfortunately from what I can see the Presidential race is based on the most popular person, with the most money, wins. It really has nothing to do with what they can achieve because they all promise the earth and mostly fail miserably once they obtain office. Why can’t the party decide who their leader will be, who can do the best job.
We have been here for 2 presidential campaigns now and it just takes so long that I believe the public tunes out! I know I’m totally bored with it all and the election isn’t even until November.We don’t even have the candidates yet. The money it takes for their campaigns could do so much good for so many people. I know it’s private money but it still seems so wasteful.
It’s quite disheartening that politics really boils down to the lobbyists and how much money they give to get things done. Someone said to me recently politicians should have to wear their sponsors on their clothes like race car drivers. That way people know who is giving them money to supposedly make decisions for the good of the people. I think it’s a great idea. Either way they’ll never go hungry or have to bargain with a pharmacist for their medications. They are set up for life, while their constituents can’t feed, clothe or house themselves. The homeless rate is climbing, as is the unemployment rate and the poverty rate. I’ve heard it said that the state of a nation is measured by way they treat their elderly, children and sick. This country has largely turned it’s back on those groups for the almighty dollar. It makes me sad to see so many people unable to make ends meet.
Big Pharma/Health insurance companies, The Gun Lobby and Cigarette companies pay obscene amounts of money to get what they want. Imagine if that money was actually used for the good of the people, to cure cancer, to make a free health service for all, a well funded, successful free education system and healthy school lunches. It’s a utopia to dream of.
Somewhere along the way the honestly and integrity was smothered in money and we have scandals so regularly that we don’t even care anymore. Corruption is rife. Meanwhile the country is getting into more debt than it’ll ever get out of and our rank in the world is slipping.
I don’t know what the answer is and I don’t know if it will ever change but I do know the system in it’s current form really doesn’t work very well.
I pray the right people get in with for the right reasons and can turn this great country around for the future of our children and grand children but I don’t expect to see it in my lifetime. It no longer seems to be for the people by the people but for the few who have the most.
I am a lucky one because I have the ability to leave, many don’t and they get stuck in a rut, sometimes for generations. It must feel so hopeless to be stuck and no matter how hard you try you can’t get out.
So come November whoever becomes “Leader of the Free World” I hope they can make this country great again for everyone.