In a conversation with my older brother who is a staunch Republican and an operative within it, I confronted him on the corporate stranglehold on this nation. He stated to me and I shall paraphrase him that there is nothing wrong with corporations since “capitalism is good” My guess is that those who believe in capitalism running our lives have seen the movie “Wall Street” far too many times especially when Gordon Gekko made his infamous speech, “Greed is Good”
To counter that belief system and how greed and capitalism does run our lives, I am reminded of what the late Pope John Paul II had to say of capitalism that it "subordinates the human person to blind market forces and conditions the development of people on those forces." The late pope stated this while also criticizing our U.S. embargo on Cuba. I have often said of this embargo, it has outlived its usefulness especially when we trade with Communist China and even borrow from them to fund the war in Iraq.
How much of our society is steered by these market forces? Is the American way of life consumerism and how much we can acquire? Do people feel left out when they cannot purchase the latest gadget?
As we approach the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primaries, one only has to remember NAFTA which was implemented during the Clinton administration and remains in place to this day. One only has to remember how many of our jobs have been outsourced. I would say that Americans have been subjugated by the forces of corporate-America and the politicians that allowed for it to happen. Supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton will cite that she was her husband’s true partner during his past administration in speaking of her experience. If that is so, then she must be held responsible for the loss of these American jobs. This is her record if one believes she has the experience to hit the ground running if elected our 44th president. Our collective message to Hillary must be is that we want our jobs back.
Not to attack Senator Clinton solely, I want all Iowans and citizens of New Hampshire to remember this as other candidates beholden to corporate-America vie for these precious votes. If any of these other candidates supported NAFTA, CAFTA and various trade agreements which took American jobs away from those dependent on them, they must be held to account by the American people. Tell us who you are beholden to. Is it the corporate interests or those whose votes you are vying for? If any candidate is saying they are on our side, yet side with corporate interests, they are selling all of us snake-oil. Take a look at their record instead of falling for the media hype and their campaign commercials. The truth is out there.
I want to ask both Iowans and New Hampshire citizens: How many of your neighbors have lost their jobs? More importantly; what are you going to do about it in defense of those who have been hurt by these blind forces? Will you vote for more of the same or chart a different course for this country?
My older brother also stated that candidates like Congressman Ron Paul are “unelectable” and I did challenge him on that. Who exactly is calling candidates like Paul unelectable? I would suspect those who are deathly afraid of a new way of governing. They are the pillars of the status quo in how our elected officials have been elected in the past and promoted by either party officials or the media.
Speaking of the media, it has come to my attention where Fox News will exclude Ron Paul from the January 6th, 2008 debate. Who do they think they are to exclude Ron Paul from speaking to the American people? If this truly bothers you, please let them know of your condemnation by calling this number, (212) 301-3000. After the call has been answered, please select either four or six on the menu.
To really have fun and to let Fox News know how you feel please use the contact information below:
Brian Lewis, Executive Vice PresidentCorporate Communications
Phone: 212-301-3331
Fax: 212-819-0816 E-Mail: brian.lewis@foxnews.com
Irena Briganti, Vice President
Media Relations
Phone: 212-301-3608
Fax: 212-819-0816
E-Mail: irena.briganti@foxnews.com
To exclude any presidential candidate from any debate only proves that we are no longer a democracy, but a society being manipulated by party bosses and the media-elite. Maybe Fox and the other powers that be are deathly afraid of Paul’s electability, so their only move is to shut him out. Paul has raised more money in the fourth quarter than any other Republican candidate, and it leaves me to ask Fox News: Why not shut Giuliani, Romney, McCain, and Huckabee out of the debate. Ah, but they can’t since they are also pillars of the status quo.
Not to pick on the Republican Party solely, but the Democratic Party shares equal blame for their exclusion in their debates when Dennis Kucinich was bumped from the Iowa (Des Moine Register) debate. As you will see again, it is the media deciding for you the voter who is allowed to speak to you. I have written before of former Senator Mike Gravel’s exclusion from these presidential debates by the media and again, it is the media controlling this campaign and not the people. Is that a democracy? It sure doesn’t seem that way.
My brother also supports the two-party rule of this country and is firm in his belief that no other parties need apply to help govern we the people. While I love my brother, I deeply resent this belief system of his. As a newly independent voter without party affiliation, I am challenging all Americans to shed their allegiance with both parties since both have not aligned themselves with the freedoms we hold dear. One of those freedoms is the right to free speech and by excluding any candidate from speaking to the American people, they are abridging free speech. I am asking every single voter instead of getting your information from the mainstream media to get it from the alternative media. At least those of us who write for the alternative media give all candidates a podium to speak to the American people. We in the alternative media do believe in the United States Constitution whereas the mainstream media does not.
I am of the belief that the power should and must come from the people and not the political elites who have all but ruined this country. Both parties tend to finger-point instead of governing the people. They both forget that this government of ours derives just power from the consent of the people. Power should never be owned by political parties and the media at the expense of the people.
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