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America, The Big Picture

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by W. O. Coach

Yes indeed these are tough times for America, the memory of 9/11, an unpopular war in Iraq and subsequent loss of prestige in the world abetted by the torture scandals. Add an unpopular president, and make no mistake, a bounce to 37% approval from the low 30's still makes for overwhelming disapproval no matter how the political hacks try to spin it.  

Most Americans are depressed for very good reason. They see the loss of real wages in contrast to skyrocketing big corporation profits as an affront to their sense of fair play and reward. They shake their heads in dismay at the White House spin that tax cuts for the already rich work to their benefit. They feel Congress and the Senate are working for their lobbyist-donors and not their constituents. Who wouldn't be outraged that the burning issues in congress are somehow gay marriage and flag burning rather than exporting jobs and importing illegal workers and shall we say it, getting out of the Iraq quagmire.  

It's like the great American dream has been hijacked by a cabal of self-serving politicians whose single purpose is to remain in power. And that's both democrats and republicans. The truth is in the numbers, that 98% of incumbents get re-elected. Even dictators with fake elections don't claim to get 98% of the vote in their favor. They wouldn't dare for fear of ridicule. But that's America now, the powers that be think you're stupid, and with good reason.  

They know half of you don't vote, and the other half that will, won't squawk even if it's been proven that a few key strokes on a computer can change your vote to the opposite of your choice because of corrupt touch screen voting machines.  

The American system of democracy is broken. Badly. Large corporations through lobbyists now call the shots via campaign contributions to politicians willing to do anything to stay in power. Remember, 98% of incumbents get re-elected. How ridiculous is that when congress has an approval rating of about 20 something percent?   

So, what to do?  

Actually, it's pretty simple. Give a tax break for voting! And here's how it works:  

Get a receipt for voting and you get $100.00 off your federal tax bill. To put this in perspective, only half of us vote right now. About 25% of the population is religiously insane, and they are going to vote conservative, regardless, because they believe we need to be protected from gay marriage. If we can get more than half of us to vote, game over, as long as we get back to paper ballots.  

It would be a heck of a lot cheaper than giving tax cuts to the already rich and fighting a war in a desert whose occupants share a culture we could in no way accept, anymore than they could accept ours. Think about that.  

Thank you for reading, and all I ask is that you vote in your own self interest. Even if you vote the opposite of my position, democrat, that's okay. Vote. The more people voting, the more chance we'll get the country back on track.  

Of that I'm convinced.

W. O. Coach

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION