Greed part II

            So it occurred to me as I was sitting down to write the second part of the greed article that some of the examples I gave in the first part could be said to be selfishness and not greed.  However, I would say that selfishness and greed are shades of the same thing.  I think being greedy is also being selfish since a person can’t have more without someone else having less in many cases.  However, this is about the greed in Washington and how that has confused the issue of greed in America.

            Politics in America has become a three-ring circus.  In one ring you have the parties, in another the business and lobbyists and finally the finale is performed by the voters.  Although selfishness, arrogance and ignorance are plentiful in Washington, I think the damage done by greed can do the most harm. 

            Firstly, the voters.  Voters are greedy because they believe they can get something for nothing out of Washington.  Whether it is education, subsidies, health benefits or national security; the voters are greedy.  I understand that voters are willing to pay taxes, but how many officials are willing to come out and tell the voters they need to raise taxes?  How many would get elected if they did?  Even worse, voters are greedy because they think as long as they elect a person from their chosen party that after the election all is good and they can return to watching American Idol.  We are greedy because we request and require that our government set our moral standards.  We are greedy because we allow the centralizing of power in order to foster a more remote relationship with our government.  This “long-distance” relationship allows voters to profess helplessness and the lack of accountability.  Why are these things greedy?  They are greedy because we value our time, money, and energy too much to use them for the better good of our society and country.   It is far easier to wave our rights if it allows us to wave our responsibility.  This is the essence of what is wrong with our country.  It is not a left or right issue.  It is an issue of citizenship, education, and a balanced amount of nationalism.

            As far as the parties are concerned, I’m not sure where to start.  What could I possibly list as the greediest actions that make up a normal day?  I suppose that the greed in Washington boils down to power for the politicians and money for the businesses and lobbyists.  Quite possibly the greediest action undertaken by Washington is that of social engineering?  How hard is it to understand that our country was founded in such a way as to promote our states as democratic experiments that can learn from each other while not risking the union with their failures?  The prevailing opinion in Washington is that we cannot decide for ourselves, whether as citizens or states, how to conduct our affairs.  If we consider the financial and military actions taken by our current President, I believe it confirms the fact that the parties aren’t really that different at heart.  The only differences worth mentioning involve either the supporting organizations (the old argument of unions vs. business) or the social engineering promoted by each party.  They both voted to bail out the banks.  They both send our precious troops around the world to further our empire.  They both choose to ignore or obey the United Nations depending on which serves their goal.  They both sell their souls to the organizations which fill the coffers during election time.  So what makes you a Democrat or Republican?  I would argue that it really comes down to only a few things.  Currently among these traits are: abortion, gay marriage and tax structure (including welfare).  Obviously there are many, many more.  Class warfare plays a huge role in defining our parties, for example.  Race also plays a role due to the differing philosophies on the government’s role for this issue.  Yet I dare to believe that when it comes to immigration, most voters agree on the basics.  I think most people agree our military should be used for defense and not the building of an empire.  Most citizens support a safety net for those that are poor, sick, old or young.  However, there are subjects upon which the sides will never agree.  How does this come back to greed?  Politicians and business leaders alike seemingly survive off of greed in Washington.  They covet the power given to the states and the voters.  They covet our money through inflation and taxes.  They yearn for more power and money without end.  Yet earlier I blamed the voters for allowing this greed to grow.  Why?  We the voters are allowing moral issues to permit the two parties to mislead us with promises of social engineering.  We should demand a true choice, one that promotes our empire and one who believes we should bring troops home from wherever possible.  That would be a true choice involving decisions and power left to the federal government by the constitution.  We should be demanding a choice between a national bank and the constitutional ban on printing money.  Yet we allow the system to organize us according to our beliefs on issues such as abortion and gay marriage.  These decisions were never meant for the federal government and yet because of their greed towards power, they herd us according to our beliefs without ever addressing the issues for which Washington is actually responsible.  This grouping of voters has allowed politicians to avoid the true issues facing our nation such as central banking, imperialism or the promises of benefits which can no longer be afforded.  For over a century education fell to the parents, teachers and local community and yet we have allowed the greed in Washington to take that over too.  The greed and arrogance shown through taking over everything possible is only viable if voters allow it.  The greedy politicians write bills which scratch the back of their campaign supporters while promising benefits to the voters.  Doesn’t it seem incompatible that we can help everyone with health care costs through a bill written by and arguably for the insurance companies and drug companies?  Politicians get re-elected because voters are too greedy with their time to really study issues or candidates and instead vote based off of TV advertisements.  Doesn’t anyone else think money shouldn’t decide elections, and yet it does year after year?  Yes, our federal government is greedy, but it is our mutual greed which is sending our country down a dangerous road.  Americans enjoy comfort and yet democracy and true liberty DEMAND that we be uncomfortable at times.  Should we be more afraid of allowing people to act or believe in ways we disagree with or should we be more afraid of a small group in Washington that decides the value of our money illegally?  Allowing the Constitution into the political conversations and elections in a meaningful way would permit States to decide these moral issues while preserving the health of the nation.  The greed in Washington is dangerous and immoral yet the submissive attitude of the voters is far worse.  If America is to survive and flourish in the 21^st century we, the voters, must become as greedy towards the rights our constitution gives as us we are towards our bank accounts.