Come now people, just take your flu shot and everything will be okay. Oh, and watch lots of television, spend, spend, spend, and be sure to take your meds. If you don't have any meds, we will make sure to create a psychological disorder just for you. Don't believe a thing you hear unless it comes from us and watch out for those crazy, delusional conspiracy theorists.

The political process has been the same since its inception. Politicians have always been the wealthiest and the media has always been deeply involved. (Ben Franklin was a Newspaper Editor)

I think one should study history, and if they have, they should ask themselves; Who were the Founding Fathers?
They were not common citizens. They were the wealthiest members of the colonies! Who would in the end be the ruling class.

I said it on the other page but it rolled over too quick

Americans have always distrusted the govt. That is inherent in being an American

we distrust the govt so much that we made a Constitution severely restricting its power and installed checks and balances to prevent the government from getting too powerful

It functions better than any government in the world.
When it seems out-of-control, if one observes, is when we the people become complacent.
It's our government and country. We must not falter and leave it up to the special interest groups. We must vote and vote intelligently.
If we turn our backs, close our eyes, and sit on our laurels we can not expect it to work for us. I'll guarantee you that the special interest will not be complacent.

I don't even think its out of control

it's running exactly representative of the American people: self interested, greedy, and living a lifestyle unsupported by our economics and financing it all on credit

if we wanna change our govt we have to change our society

j/m/o

We do seem to be a greedy lot. If you spend the day in a poor family's home or a homeless mans shoes though you won't find that trait to be common.
I dont think it's out of control now but under Bush it was hijacked.

I think that

then I hear em mention their playstation or their cellphone or their HD TV

our poorest people live a standard that would be consider the height of luxury in Sudan or Cambodia or Chile

People are entitled to entertainment. I do not expect they should give up all including the standard of living Americans have worked to achieve. I feel for those living in Cambodia but I dont expect a person to give up their PlayStation for them. There are far wealthier in this country and most of them profit off the loss in living standards of Americans. They outsource the working class jobs while profiting off the poor and needy of cheap labor in countries like Cambodia.
I dont think you'll find greed in a man just because he owns a PlayStation or HTV.
More likely to find it in a gated community with a manicured lawn, a second and third home, a Yacht, a BMW in the drive, and two more parked in the double garage.

You know the ones who feel good if they give to United Way just for the tax break.

yah but they are the ones more likely to vote too

so the govt winds up representing them instead

Vote and be represented by special interest.
That' why we can't afford complacency.

Actually, a great number of the signers of the Declaration of Independence lost everything. Many of their family members were killed. However, the Federalists were the elites, and did sabotage the revolution by skewing power in favor of the elites. They locked the anti-Federalists out of the process (who represented the common man). "Hamilton's Betrayal" is a good book about this.

I'll check out the book.
Many did lose everything?
I know my great, great, great, great grandaddy lost everything. Of course he was the #1 financier of the Revolution. Perhaps you know who he was.