Money Talks.

       Did you know that just over half of the citizens of America, 57.5%, voted in the 2012 elections? Half of all Americans eligible to vote didn't bother. Or were stopped from voting because of one form of obstruction or another. And by that I mean anything from no transportation to voter restrictions to just not caring. Now, if you asked how many citizens have complained about elected officials and their actions, I'd say about 85.5% fit that category. And of those who did not vote in 2012, the numbers look more like 95.5%
       But fair is fair. We're not required to vote. A lot of people just don't see the need to vote. After all, does our vote really count? Even if the candidate of our choice gets elected, the chances that he or she will carry out the promises he made to us is only about 10%. And if the other candidate gets elected you can bet there is no chance we'll see anything good come out of government.  So why should we vote?
       Then there's the constituents that matter the most and least. It amazes me that the constituents that matter the most when it comes to getting elected, at least on election day, are the voters. The people, the human citizens. The rest of the year the constituents that matter the most are the non-human kind and a few, very few, humans too. I speak of the corporations, the big ones that control the purse strings for the elections. And be honest. It is the money that speaks the loudest.
       Let's face it, you or I can call or write the newspaper about a political or governmental problem we think needs to be righted, or a politician we think is best suited for a position and maybe it will get printed, but not often. But let a major corporation send in a full page political ad or a commentary for the editorial page and you can bet it'll get printed. It's the money that talks.
       So why do so few people exercise their given right to vote or to their free speech? Because they are convinced their voices will not be heard. How come? Because money talks. And for some reason, the Supreme Court of the United States has insured that money will have a bigger and bigger place in the country's decision making process.