I’ve noticed that when something terrible happens people band together and help each other. During the horrible September 11 attacks in NY the nation came together. They hugged, cried and connected. On September 12 no airplanes entered our airspace. Flags flew. People talked. We showed the best side of ourselves. We were vulnerable and we allowed it to show.
On July 20, 2012 Colorado suffered another round of sadness when a shooter entered a midnight showing of The Dark Knight in Aurora and proceeded to shoot and wound unsuspecting patrons. What followed was more care, love, concern and kindness.
Even our politicians did something unusual and generous – they withheld playing the campaign ads that assault us each time we turn on the television. Someone decided that Colorado was dealing with enough pain and abuse and didn’t need more harassment from our presidential candidates as they point fingers, promise the moon and spend outrageous amounts of money that could be used in a million different ways.
“Nearly 700 independent political groups have poured more than $187 million into 2012 campaigns nationwide so far, according to FEC records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. More than $41 million of that has come from groups that disclose only a limited amount of information about their donors, or none at all.” (CNN) http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/18/politics/campaign-finance/index.html
This is the thing … I know who I am going to vote for. You know who you are going to vote for. We don’t need to wait until Election Day to decide whether we want Obama or Romney. We could go to the polls today and pull the lever. Instead money will be wasted as we dread the phone calls, as we are bombarded with newspaper and magazine ads, we will hit the mute button on our televisions and oh yes … have to deal with banners on the internet.
The newest campaign ads SHOUT that Romney is a demon or perhaps Obama demonizes …. what? Have you seen that ad yet?
What will make this stop and go away? How much more abuse do we have to put up with before November? If we actually had a cap on spending for each election then all the PAC money in the world wouldn’t matter once the cap was reached. Did you hear they are expecting over $100 BILLION to be spent on this election? Truly, anyone that can WASTE that amount of money has no right to lead our country. ANYBODY LISTENING?
What will make this go away — I think we all know that money and power will only escalate the fiasco that awaits us. Regardless of who wins this election, the majority of American will lose … as if that matters to our politicians.
Can we get money out of politics? (socialistworker.org)
http://socialistworker.org/2012/03/08/can-we-get-money-out-of-politics
Top Super PAC Donors
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/news/economy/1206/gallery.super-pac-donors-politics/index.html
Dark Money
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/29/dark-money-2012-election_n_1708127.html
196 People Control 80% of Super PAC Money
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/07/27/196-people-control-80-percent-of-super-pac-money-who-are-they
Dirty Politics as Usual in the South
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/01/21/145574138/dirty-politics-as-usual-in-south
Happily ... after retirement 
This should be sent to every major T.V. Station, Congress and both political campaigns!
Very well said!
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Reblogged this on collectionofthoughtswrittenonraggedpieciesofpaper and commented:
I think everyone should heed this advice!
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Too depressing to “like”, but true. Thanks for the links.
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“Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen”–I LOVE this. So…it applies to politics too? Not sure my faith will stretch that far, but I’ll give it a try. God bless you–Caddo
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It’s good to express our views…and right now…we all have our thoughts on such waste that we see…so I say, “Spread your thoughts…let people know how you feel…For now we have that right…Who’s to say for how long…Good for you! ~mkg
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You ask if anybody is listening.
I am, and your other viewers, and people of good will and a certain modesty and prudence.
But will we bring about change? Against the might of all that Mammon? I’m afraid not. Yeats called it: “The worst are filled with passionate intensity.”
And there you have the state of the union, no official address needed.
I’d like to be more optimistic, but I don’t know where I can dredge up the optimism. But bravo to you for stating this so clearly and openly!
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A very well-written post, which should be required reading for the world!
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You pretty much echo my thoughts. Perhaps this article might be of interest to you:
http://socialistworker.org/2012/03/08/can-we-get-money-out-of-politics
If nothing else it provides some food for thought of what it would take to clean up more than just the campaigns.
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Yes and if not the world, perhaps our elected politicians!
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Thanks. It would be amazing if an elected official had the courage to speak true words and work for the people instead of working for self. If you know of any, be sure to share the news.
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I believe the ‘average’ person thinks our elected officials will do right by us but once in office they no longer need to listen or care. Am I just cynical?
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You are so right – the blogging forum allows the everyday citizen to voice thoughts, concerns with the hope that someone, somewhere is listening!
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Ugh – election years bring out the worst in our politician and in me too, I suppose. I continue to hope for someone to refuse to buy into the spending mania, to refuse to be negative and to — IMAGINE THIS — tell us what they plan to do as they move forward.
Instead we only hear what one says about another. What one did, what one didn’t do. The winner will owe their souls to the PACs that paid for their election.
Ugh.
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Thanks for your comments and also for the link to a great article. What would it be like to be that 1% who has so much power?
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No, you sound like a realist (unfortunately, ha ha). My neighbor is passionate about politics and he supported Obama 100%–well, after he’d been in office awhile, my neighbor just felt a crushing disappointment. And this is why I can’t get very involved in politics–I don’t need the aggravation. Poets have tender hearts.
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You’ve got it!
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