Prior to the last 37 days of my life, I had little interest in politics. I saw no use for the institution of which has such a bad rep in our country. For good reasons though. Our government and political system is setup to serve my best interest and yours. But why doesn't it efficiently execute plans in our best interest? The interest of our nation as a whole.
I see two major problems. The first is a general apathetic attitude toward anything that goes on politically. "They're all sumbags, it's all for money and power and what I think doesn't matter." We live in a country where close to anyone can participate in shaping our country's future. Where anyone can have a good idea and have it heard. We get to actively vote for our elected representatives, and often time vote directly on legislation at a local and state level. There is so much opportunity and potential.
So why such apathy?
How do we get from an organizing document so ideal to a condition in government and society that is so far from ideal?
The second major problem is cause in part for the first problem we face. It's what leads you and I to the conclusion that government no longer serves the people of our nation. It's what makes the uneducated masses respond with "It won't matter" when you encourage their vote. It's what allows our best bills and ideas to go unheard and be thrown to the wind. It's why each bill that passes will have done so only with earmarks of unrelated expenditures. It's why we have corporate bailouts, an untrusted investment market and a drowning currency. It's why I may never afford to own a house and why your parents may never see a pension.
I'm talking about government accountability and transparency.
I'm talking about making every elected official, every government agency, every congressional committee and every government funded program 100% accountable for every vote, every action and every penny spent, dwindled and paid out.
If we ever want this government to work properly again, we need to work together to prove this government's dedication to its people. We can't expect people to write their congressman or woman when they have no confidence in our legislative and representative systems.
If we ever expect government to serve its people for the progress of our society, we must make government transparent. That means everything from foreign policy to welfare and health care and economic policy all presented in layman's terms, organized logically and honestly. The public cannot be expected to read through 500 page "Patriot Acts" or bailouts and neither can congressmen.
All of this information and oversight is useless if not properly broadcasted and distributed to the public in the right way. Our generation is in a unique situation where a tool as powerful as the internet is just beginning to have its potential realized. News and important information on what's going on in our government could be easily organized and centralized for the public to evaluate and give feedback on.
We are at a time technologically where a working population can be actively involved in a true democracy. If tools on the internet were utilized, we would have discussions opened, opinions expressed and heard, voter approval ratings on everything from our congressional budget to the performance of our educational programs, to the leadership in our country.
And all of this could start now.
In a time of such excitement for our elected leader, in a time of such hope and a need for such change, we can get the wheels in motion for a politically interested and active population and a government truly serving its people again for the progress of our nation and society.
