Class Warfare-I think not

Conservatives are frequently accusing Progressives of picking on the wealthy merely because of the fact that they have become materially more successful than those in the working and middle classes. Nothing could be further from the truth. I celebrate the success of the wealthy well to do and certainly want to imitate them. The fact that they drive a Jaguar while I drive a Chevy is of no concern to me. After all, they are both modes of transportation and my Chevy can get me to and from my destination just as effectively.

 I am concerned about the influence of money and power as a method of making it less likely that any of us mere commoners can successfully follow in their paths. I speak about Thurston Howell and the corporations coming to my congressional representatives, plying them with bags of money supposedly to help promote their candidacy or hand over large sums to their opponents to insure the incumbent’s defeat. We are not children; we all know that these sums are not merely given to the incumbent or their opponent, without expecting something done on behalf of the donor in return. These obligations may involve the successful congressperson taking positions on issues of the day contrary to the best interests of the majority of his/her constituents to satisfy the obligation to the donor. Whether it is one political party or the other, we know that, in spite of Rush Limbaugh’s statement that the Congress is made up of big boys and girls who are beyond letting large sums of money influence their judgment, we just have to watch the daily broadcasts to see that such is not the case. There is no reason why someone with vast sums of money should have a voice and influence in the corridors of legislative power any greater than you or I, regardless of the fact that he or she owns a Jaguar.

Yes, I am aware of the Conservative argument that references the power of the Unions, George Soros and such. But, can we all agree that for both sides the tempting influence of money in our political campaigns need to be further curbed? I still see a great deal more resistance to this idea from the Conservative side of the ideological divide than from the Progressives. Conservatives say that this represents free speech, but money to candidates is not speech but more corruption. I also find it very disturbing that the Conservatives in Congress voted not too long ago to resist the idea of the disclosure of the identity of donors to political campaigns. It seems sinister and dishonest on its face, so what gives? Who is trying to hide something and why?

We all know of the corrupting influence of money in politics, and to try to deny it is sheer lunacy. Yes, Thurston Howell, you can have that fabulous residence and expensive wardrobe, but tenets that form the basis of our democracy are not for sale, ever.

(Thurston Howell is a fictional character not meant to be representative of the many affluent people who make positive contributions to our society every day)

Racial Voting Disparities: http://hubpages.com/hub/SO-WHAT-IS-THE-MATTER-WITH-KANSAS

Outsourcing Jobs: http://hubpages.com/hub/DONT-REWARD-OUTSOURCERS-OF-AMERICAN-JOBS

Gun Control: http://hubpages.com/hub/A-PROGRESSIVES-VIEW-OF-GUN-CONTROL

http://hubpages.com/hub/GUN-CONTROL-MORE-FALLACIOUS-ARGUMENTS-FROM-THE-RIGHT?done