Large-Scale Laryngitis

In a perfect democracy, every citizen has a voice. An opinion. A say in what does and does not become law. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. In a perfect world, the government is for the people, by the people. Not the abundant ego-petting, image-fluffing, across-the-aisle sniping that is oh-so prevalent in Washington today, and has been since 2000.

Since 2000, every powerful politician has slowly become more and more out of touch with the needs of the American people. They're more concerned with their own career and making more and more money than they are with fixing America so that the average citizen can have food, water, a job, and the materials necessary to live.

The Bush Administration was no better than the current one, at least for the last 2 or 3 years of the tenure. The spending was off the charts, and that contributed to the massive deficit faced today. The Obama Administration, instead of tightening their belts like the rest of America is forced to do during this recession, proposes RECORD spending. They propose environmental reforms that impose unfair restrictions on businesses in times like these; restrictions that will ultimately lead to increased prices and less affordability for consumers. Fixing an ailing economy became the third or fourth thing on their list after they took over, while the unemployment rate rose and the recession deepened. They were more concerned with passing socialistic health care that people didn't want, and still only works some of the time. With more and more of America running on jobless benefits, the GOP filibustered an extension of the benefits (damn you Jim Bunning) that keep food on the table for families. If that isn't a symbol of the rift between Washington D.C and the rest of America, I'm not sure what is.

This goes back to entitlement. THEY got elected to the seat, so THEY feel they can do as they please. They forget that the PEOPLE elected them, and that THEY serve the PEOPLE. There is no accountability today, at either the state or the federal level. Our governor ran this great state into the ground and stripped away college funds from tens of thousands of kids. Our U.S. Representatives are focused on legislative victories in the most minor areas, instead of ensuring the survival of the citizens. Even state governments on the west coast are diverting their attention to some of the most pointless issues, like Los Angeles and parts of New Mexico boycotting Arizona over SB 1070. That is not a pressing issue at this time.

The American people have come down with a widespread case of arrogance-induced laryngitis. Arrogance on the part of our politicians. We have no voice. The only cure here is to, pardon the quote from "Swing Vote", break the cycle. Every election, we remove people who have failed us and replace them with people who are going to fail us. People who have mastered the art of persuasion and image-enhancing. People who make empty promises. People who sit on their government-provided thrones in Lansing, Washington D.C., and state capitals all over the United States and do nothing but pad their resumes for the next election. We need to break this damaging cycle.

While I do not agree with some of their methods, the Tea Party is a great model. A protest group that demands accountability and transparency, the former missing from the government entirely, and the latter from the Obama Administration. In the interest of fairness, on the left side, I'd like to cite MoveOn.org, which was a major leftist player during the reign of the Bush Administration and continues to be a liberal haven.

This is also aimed at my generation. Get out and support someone. Just because you can't vote doesn't mean that you can't help on the campaign trail. Talk to your parents, see if you can influence them. It's primary season as well, and many candidates would love to have your help. This is a call to action. Show them we still have a voice.