The future of our democracy is at stake. For four decades, the divide between the rich and the poor has been widening -- that didn't just start with this administration. We have allowed our government to be bought and sold by a few lobbyists and the billionaires and millionaires who line their pockets with oil, prison, war, gun and insurance money. In those forty years, there has not been anyone that has represented these hijackers of our democracy better than "Money" Mitt Romney. He is THEIR guy! That is precisely why the Super PACs spend most of their money on his campaign (4 to 1), because they know that he is for sale, like a NASCAR driver.
Simply put, Mitt Romney works for the corporations, while Barack Obama works for the people.
Eighty-five percent of Americans believe that corporations have too much control of our government. They've taken a choke hold on our politicians and created a deeply flawed democracy, where money from lobbyists can completely disempower an entire group of people. This is what has happened to the poor and working class in this country. Every single policy that has disempowered the poor has been the result of some lobbyist backed by some rich guy who exploited the poor for a hefty return on their "investment." For a small investment on behalf of these rich men, lobbyists have persuaded lawmakers to create policies that create the enormous economic inequality that we see in this country. How do you think they fill up the prisons? Fight two wars at once? Invade countries that have oil, but gas prices still go up? Deregulate Wall Street bankers? They pay them! THIS is what created the economic inequality over the past forty years.
What is at the root of economic inequality? Mitt Romney has "new and improved" ways to exploit the working class. He will privatize everything and sell off our country to his buddies in the boardroom. Bush tried it and we stopped him. Now "Money" Mitt is trying to finish where George W. Bush left off.
So, Mr. President, this must be your legacy issue. This must be how we remember your eight years in office. You are the people's president. You don't break down the American people into percentages of the "haves" and the "have-nots." You have always represented 100 percent, whether they voted for you or not. You have always stood up for all of us. That is why you took the right step in your agenda by supporting the use of a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizen's United, the Supreme Court ruling that allowed for corporations to be considered people, thus funneling billions of dollars into campaigns. One of the worst rulings in the history of our nation. We must overturn that ruling in your second term.
We are counting on you to restore our democracy back to the voters. We are counting on you to continue standing up to lobbyists and corporations and tell them that our democracy is NOT for sale, as you have done during your first term. We are counting on you to frame this properly, so all the people fully understand the stark difference between you and "Money" Mitt. We are counting on you to explain to the American people that "Money" Mitt Romney will say anything, do anything and certainly accept anyone's check to get into the White House. We are counting on you to always represent the people!
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“Similarly, for Adams, inequality was both inevitable and natural, even divinely ordained: “It already appears, that there must be in every society of men superiors and inferiors, because God has laid in the constitution and course of nature the foundations of the distinction.”
What self-respecting venture capitalist wouldn’t seek to exploit that language for his own profit--or the profit of his loyal followers? Is it in this context Romney referred to the Constitution as "divinely inspired?"
I agree-Obama should make it clear--our Government is NOT for sale!
Obama is bought and paid for by the exact same corporations as Romney. Look at the top 20 donor lists? Super pac? Who do you think funds those? Has Obama ended the war or the war profiteers? NO. Has he cracked down on big oil like BP even with the justification of a global natural disaster? NO. Has he called for regulation of derivatives? NO.
Your NASCAR analogy is spot on, but both drivers have cars covered in corporate sponsors. There is NO candidate of or for the people in this election.
Obama had his chance for "change" and "hope" and we are clearly still sliding, don't kid yourself, educate yourself.
Romney is an ex-investment banker married to his track record & corporations. He's just another Bush. A Wall Street player, a crook.
They're both spending ridiculous, massive amounts of capital to win. The amount is ludicrous.
America has outgrown the antiquated two party system.
The proof is out there. In Global Student Assessment & University Awarded Bachelor degrees as of 2009 for USA. See the October issue of The Atlantic.
This is horrific:
1) USA has fallen to #21 in Science
2) USA has fallen to #14 in Basic reading
3) USA has fallen to #30 in Basic Math
4) USA awarded only 4% Bachelor's Degrees in 2009. China awarded 31% - in 1999 it was Reverse.
This is our future. Our students are our future. This is proof of more rapid decline and Obama & Romney skirt the truth.
Same with real Unemployment numbers: The numbers they quote Do Not include 1099 workers (over 28% of the workforce) nor people out of work over one year. They put a PR spin on the truth.
Voting for either will obviously lead us further on the path of decline.
There are other choices, they won't win this time but the foothold will begin.
The problem as I see it is our forefathers never foresaw that private citizens and corporations would ever get so large and powerful that they would influence government. Or that greed would become the universal lowest common denominator in the country.
The wealthy have more capital than the have ever had in the past and this has not translated into a boom for the middle class..
In fact, as the Republicans themselves point out, the middle class continues to decline.
The Republican promise of fueling the economy by giving even more incentives to the wealth makes no sense. It just means the middle class will be hit even harder...we have enough 'trickle down" as it is and it's obviously not working.
How would policies that result in even more income disparity work out better for the middle class?
Do you think it fair that the upper 1% owns 95% of all wealth?
It is a fantasy to think that correlates with harder or more work on the part of The Wealthy?
What is income equity?
For starters, how about subsistence, how about dignity, how about food and shelter?
The less of this the more EVERYONE pays a price in some manner, though it is graduated up to those with the most, who care least.
But there are many with little who don't care about others either.
It is a simple divide. A matter of temperament, some would say morality.
Every advanced economy is dealing with this issue, regardless of whether or not they have dealt with the issues this article brings up. When even Sweden is starting to see income inequality increasing you know the problem is bigger than these left vs right points.
If income inequality is so terrible ( you are worth Millions & Millions more than Mitt Romney) you can always give your money to the gov't to absolve your guilt. The fact is that President Obama is down in the polls because he has a TERRIBLE RECORD!!
* BENGHAZIGATE- Coverup! Our Ambassador and 3 Americans DEAD!!
* FAST & FURIOUS - Coverup! - 200+ Mexicans dead and a US Federal Agent Dead! (Remember Watergate, there were NO deaths involved and a President was forced OUT!)
* 23 Million Unemployed & Underemployed
* 44 Months Unemployment over 8%
* 46 Million People on Foodstamps!
* 7.8% Unemployment (It took 4 years and an unprecedented 6 Billion $$ to get us back to where he started)
* 14% Female Unemployment
* 12% Black Unemployment
* 11% Hispanic Unemployment
* 50% Recent Grad Unemployment
* 65.% Workforce Participation - the LOWEST in 31 Years
* 100% Increase in Food Stamps
* 1.25% Growth
* 8.2% Drop in Household Income during Obama's term
* 2 Credit Downgrades (the first in US History!)
* 100% Increase in Gas Price
* 40% Loss to average family net worth
* 25% Increase in in state college tuition
* 15% Increase in Food Prices
* $5 Trillion in additional debt
* Embassies attacked and our Ambassador dead
President Obama's policies are a DISASTER!!
I suppose you have GOLD COVERED WALLS in your dining room to remind yourself about economic inequality every night at dinner, right?
Both candidates have to answer to the major contributors. Have you seen the list of contributors to the Super-Pacs? Get the idea? PEACE