Why the American People can't get what they Need

From the latest polling data, and many polls done in the past, there are three issues that concern at least 80% of the American people. The first and highest concern is Health Care. To become ill in the US., is an economic, and sometimes physical, death sentence. Second highest concern is the availability of a Living Wage. In the majority of “free” western democratic nations, the minimum wage is high enough to survive, without being forced to get a second job. In the US., people including professionals, for example school teachers, in some cases are forced to receive food stamps, and a second job is necessary when looking after a family, and your the basic breadwinner. The third issue is free education, including a free higher education, that is Community College and University. There are other important issues, such as stopping the regime change wars. All four of these issue are closely connected or intertwine with the other. If most of the “free world's “ people already have these things, why doesn't the United States, the richest nation in the world?

The reasons, aside from draconian Neo-liberal policies, maintaining that the rich get richer and the poor can barely sustain a living, is the US. political system itself. The system has created the Donor Class. In order to run for office, the system requires you to have a lot of money, for many reasons. The law states that you cannot have a single donation above $2000, However, from a passed Supreme Court ruling, corporations or “lobby groups” , have gotten around this rule. Therefore a single politician or candidate can receive millions of dollars from these corporations, thereby boosting their chances for being elected. The issue is that, for example, Nancy Pelosi, receives a million dollar donation from Raytheon, a weapons manufacturer, Nancy is beholden to the corporation. They expect something in return for that million dollar investment. Thus, the war in Afghanistan rages on, when the American people want the war ended. Nancy will vote to continue the war, so her donors can continue manufacturing guns, tanks and bombs. In essence, Nancy is not representing her constituents, but the Raytheon Corporation.

The biggest issue for most of the American people is Health Care. As mentioned above, every “free” democratic nation around the planet has some form of Medicare for all. In Australia, for example, we have a mixed system , whereby you can choose an insurance company and are covered for most health aliments. We can also choose to remain on Medicare, the public option, and not pay a cent for any treatments. There are disadvantages and advantages in either category, but that said, no one can go bankrupt from getting sick. That simply never happens. The only reason that the American people do not have medicare for all is, well, their politicians are all bought by the pharmaceutical and medical insurance corporations. Again, the majority of Americans want medicare for all, but their elected officials, bound by their corporate masters, will spout any excuse not to have free health care.

Free education is also a Right for any citizen living in a democratic and wealthy society. It never seizes to astound me, how congressional candidates and presidential wannabes, represent themselves as the Education Candidate. And, more often than not, (never) once in office, does nothing for public education, let alone higher education. The education standard is not that great in Australia, but the US is hovering around the bottom in terms of international test scores. The reason is simple, there's no investment. In one area, why not pay teachers a higher wage thus getting higher quality people. The old adage applies, “you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”.

The third issue should be self explanatory. A minimum wage should be high enough, when working a forty hour week, to pay rent, food and clothing, at least. As many right wing idiots have proposed, this will only slow down productivity. This is statistically false. Again, the majority of democratic countries have a livable wage, and productivity, in many cases goes up, not down.

The true irony about these tragic issues is that the United States is the richest country on the planet.

So the obvious question is Why?

The core reason is that US politicians are bought and paid for by the corporations. These politicians are a greedy pack of gangsters. Rather than end wars, murdering millions of innocents, they put out some sorry propaganda, freedom or something, wage war, while the people die on the battle fields and the politicians and corporations just get richer. On face value, this is psychopathy in motion. Murder for money, out of pure and utter greed. Even more criminal, at the American taxpayers expense.

More progressive politicians of late have refused corporate donations, only to receive individual monies, so they are not beholden, and thus, can work on behalf of their constituents. This is a good sign. Generally, however, for the majority of politicians, they work for a corporation, not their voters.

Change the system, vote for real politicians that will work for you, get $ out of politics forever.