Some readers have asked me, given the previous blog, what to do. Certainly a reasonable question. I made a quick answer in the comments, here’s a more considered post with five suggestions, the first able to be implemented today. <\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
First<\/b>, support local
\neconomies. <\/span>These problems are in
\nlarge part the result of corporate and especially financial domination of our
\ngovernment. <\/span>No group benefits more
\nfrom political centralization and rendering the average American powerless than
\nbig business, despite all their talk of free enterprise and competition. <\/span>And they use their power to eliminate
\nlocal variations because that makes it easier for them and harder for smaller
\ncompetitors. <\/span><\/p>\nGiven that reality, all of us,
\nwould be wise to do everything practically possible to support local economies,
\nlocal banks, local businesses.
\n<\/span>Shift your accounts to a local or regional bank. <\/span>Shift to locally owned grocery stores
\nif not to farmers’ markets. <\/span>Shift
\naway from chains wherever reasonably possible. <\/span>Make Amazon.com the source of last, not first resort, unless
\nyou buy used stuff. <\/span>Try and make
\nbeing local as important as brand recognition is now. Urge your friends to do the same. <\/span><\/p>\n\n
You might pay a bit more, but
\nconsider that cost the price of possibly someday getting your country back and
\nenjoying a healthy local economy in the meantime. <\/span>Or save a little of your money in the short run, buy from
\nbig corporations, patronize big banks, and be honest with yourself that saving
\na little money now is more important to you than weakening this immoral
\noligarchy that is destroying what made this country an inspiration to others. <\/span>You can start buying
\nlocal today if you are not already doing so.<\/p>\nSecond<\/b>, if your state has an
\ninitiative system, help get a “Three Strikes and You’re Out” measure on the
\nballot for corporations.
\n<\/span>Corporations claim to be legally people, so treat them that way. <\/span>If a corporation is found guilty of
\nthree felonies it becomes a habitual offender, with its assets are seized and
\nsold, with its shareholders getting nothing, the money raised going to
\neducation for non-managerial employees and to pay off public debt. <\/span>In that order.<\/p>\nThird<\/b>, push for an initiative
\nmandating that all state elections, as well as to the House of Representatives
\nand the Senate, be by majority vote with instant runoff for cases where no one
\ngets a majority unless the state legislature adopts another runoff method
\nwithin two months of passage.
\n<\/span>(This latter part is to prevent the main parties from trying to defeat
\nthe measure by criticizing whatever runoff method is adopted. <\/span>It’s up to the state legislature, with
\na tried and effective method automatically coming into existence if they do not
\nact.)<\/p>\nFourth<\/b>, never ever give the
\nnational Democratic Party or the other party a thin dime. <\/span>Save any donations you make for
\ncandidates you know are not – will I almost wrote whores, but whores give value
\nfor services paid. Scam artists is a better term. <\/span>By any standard whores are superior to the Democratic
\nleadership. <\/span>Regardless of what you
\nthink of whores (I have no problem with them, myself), these guys are worse.
\nGive to individuals or to vetting groups whose values are in harmony with your
\nown. <\/span><\/p>\nFifth<\/b>, push for public financing of
\ncampaigns combined with a ban on lobbying for money by any elected
\nrepresentative for at least 20 years after ceasing to hold office. <\/span>This eliminates conflict of interest on
\nboth ends. <\/span>They already get a good
\npension, and if necessary we’d be ahead of the game to double their pensions
\nalong with a lifetime ban on lobbying.
\n<\/span>If someone wants to lobby, they can do it the way the rest of us do – writing
\nletters, visiting a congress critter, and NOT getting paid for the effort. <\/span>If these requirements are too onerous
\nfor someone who wants to run for public office, the public would be better off
\nwithout that person in office.<\/p>\nThese are constitution-level
\nreforms, but are able to be accomplished at the state level in all but the final case. <\/span>Even that one could be instituted at the
\nstate level, with good results.
\n<\/span>All are pretty neutral regarding any actual issues other than weakening
\nthe hold of the corrupt on our throats.
\n<\/span>You can be a liberal or centrist or a genuine conservative, and stand
\nalmost anywhere on almost any issue, and find value in them.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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