Government By The People

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Gettysburg Address 1863

What a great Utopian idea our country is founded on, a government by the people, yet this idea is more and more becoming a pipe dream. As many of you know politics is a field that can bend the iron spirits of the strongest Americans. So why would anyone want to enter this depressing field? One enters politics with the hope of being able to make their stamp on history and furthermore to give back to the nation that has been so good to you and I. Our government was designed to allow you and I to make the effort to better our nation, but this is not the case in modern times.
Yes, an elite group of businessmen have made our government there own through various dirty tactics. Much like expensive homes being built in your neighborhood can make your home less valuable these elitists have thrown enough money into politicking to make it inaccessible to the general public. A campaign requires a staff, advertising (signs, commercials, etc.), and it even costs a considerable sum to enter a race at all. On top of those many costs it is also unlikely or completely impossible for a public official to be employed anywhere else. Politicians have made legislation that doesn't allow for ordinary people to supplement a politician's meager wages with another job deeming it a conflict of interest.
Because our public officials cannot hold another job in most cases they do not have a job to return to when they decide to resign or do not get reelected. This is why we have an epidemic of career politicians in this nation. Our best presidents and congressmen are driving a cab in the Bronx, but cannot afford to bring their innovative and revolutionary ideas into the public realm and make them a reality.
Most of the presidential candidates have at least one thing in common, they are running on a message of change, they are running against the status quo. If change is truly what the American people want they need to support legislation to make government more accessible for you and I.

PFA