Dec 17, 2014

How We Hobbits Can Remove Money from Politics

By Steve Bivans / stevebivans.com
How We Hobbits Can Remove Money from Politics

I have long thought that accomplishing anything through political means was a complete and utter waste of time.

When asked who I thought was the greatest president, for example, I would usually say, “None of them.” Then I usually retract that and say, “Jefferson,” because he might have been the last one to actually understand and pay heed to the Constitution, though even he broke with it when Napoleon enticed him with the Louisiana Purchase.

Instead of consulting Congress—which was the proper and legal procedure—he unilaterally took the offer of the diminutive Emperor, and handed over the money. Basically, he was following a rule that I tend to employ in my own life, “It’s easier to get forgiveness, than permission.”

When I study history—and that’s what I do after all—I see corruption everywhere I look. It existed in ancient Egypt, classical Greece and definitely Rome. It ran rampant in the middle ages—monarchs are by their very nature, corrupt. The Age of Reason was little better. And don’t think for a moment that the principled, democratic government set up in the New World was any better.

The Constitution was written by old, rich, white men, most of which owned slaves—including the illustrious Jefferson—who very much wanted to hold onto their property, and set up the rules to make sure they did. They did not, for instance, create a DEMOCRACY, which would have given every ‘male’ citizen a direct vote on all issues. They set up a republic, run by representatives, which is still—theoretically—what we have today. I say theoretically because most of us know, or at least suspect, that our so-called representatives do not, in fact, represent our interests anymore.

They seem to be representing the interest of old, rich, white men, or in some cases, old, rich, men of color from other countries that happen to have boatloads of oil. There is a name for that kind of government; it’s called an oligarchy, the rule of the elite over the non-elite: the haves, over the have-nots. The haves spend millions and millions every year to entice our ‘elected’ officials to vote against our better interests. This must stop. We need to raise the Shire, blow the horn of Rohan, and kick these Sarumans and orcs out of here! We need a Shire Movement!

But what would this movement look like? How can it counter all the money spent by corporations to corrupt the system? How can a little hobbit, or even lots of little hobbits ever hope to remove money from politics? I admit, the situations seems dire and impossible, but that’s because we tend to look at the effectiveness of corporate efforts and not to the SOURCE of their power.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE...

Be a Hobbit, Save the Earth is FOR SALE ON AMAZON!, and Kobo! Thag you very buch to everyone who helped to make it so! Order your copy today! Order them for holiday gifts! Don't forget to pass the word to all hobbits, everywhere! Tell your friends! Send them to the website! Send them to the Facebook Page! Also make sure to subscribe to my list, on the right, or CLICK HERE!, so you'll get updates on the FINAL RELEASE, and new articles from the blog!
Rate article 
Consumerism
Trending Articles
The History Our Culture Doesn't Teach
Beyond Elections: Redefining Democracy and the Promise of a Million Utopias
Bull$h!t Jobs | David Graeber
Subscribe for $5/mo to Watch over 50 Patron-Exclusive Films

Become a Patron. Support Films For Action.

For $5 a month, you'll gain access to over 50 patron-exclusive documentaries while keeping us ad-free and financially independent. We need 350 more Patrons to grow our team in 2024.

Subscribe here

Your support helps grow our 6000+ video library, which is 99% free thanks to our patrons!