What’s with these politicians signing pledges not to raise
taxes? And why do some want to sacrifice Big Bird on the economic
altar? If we have to sacrifice someone, why not
the lobbyists?
But nobody wants to touch the lobbyists. Why is entitlement
for lobbyists good, but entitlement for seniors bad? Why do we tolerate the
lobbyists? Of course, the lobbyists are the one’s really writing the country’s legislation nowadays
(not our elected politicians). That means they have the laws tilted to the
advantage of big business. So where is the government “of the people, by the
people, for the people?” Does this apply any more or is it just a myth?
In the Vedic culture the leaders had advisors. But the
advisors were totally impartial. They didn’t care about Profit for themselves.
They cared about upholding the Dharma. That was their contribution to society.
So if politicians want to sign pledges, let them sign a pledge to have nothing
to do with the lobbyists. This would be
a good start. Then maybe the lawmakers
could really become lawmakers.
And while they’re at it, the lawmakers could also sign a pledge not to participate
in insider trading. On Wall Street,
insider trading could get you a jail sentence or at least a stiff fine. But not
the politicians. Talk about entitlement!!! They can, and do, take advantage of
the information that they are privy to in their committee meetings and as they
cast influential legislation. Are they
entitled to think about making extra
money for themselves while they’re supposed to be working for us? What would
your boss do if he/she caught you working for yourself while you’re on the job?
And the medical plans for politicians? Why should they be
entitled to special plans for the rest of their lives even if they only serve
on the Hill for five years? When’s the last time you held on to you’re medical
plan after you left your job? Let’s get
a comprehensive medical plan for everybody – or for nobody – including the
politicians. Unresolved or ambiguous medical
situations take an invisible toll on the
country. Politicians telling people to go to the ER is no solution.
All of us pay for it in one way or another.
Down with entitlements for politicians. Don’t let
politicians 1) be controlled by or morph into lobbyists 2) don’t let them make
extra money for themselves while they’re working for us 3) don’t let then walk
away with medical plans after they leave the job.
The Vedic culture shows that governments can work. In this
ancient culture, the leaders are beholden to the principles of the Dharma. They are not immune from the law. The leaders often made the biggest sacrifices
rather than simply asking other take on the burdens. Unfortunately, the governments of the world
have now degenerated into societies of cheaters and the cheated. If politicians had
to scramble like many folks, they might
start working together pretty quickly to find solutions.
