Governments were created to legitimize and preserve the privileges of the powerful who fear any system of “wealth distribution other than the one they use to enrich themselves. They want an ever increasing level of economic activity from which they profit those profits enhancing their sense of security. When force is their instrument governments are — totalitarian. Other elites concluded that seduction of opponents was less disruptive and thus more profitable than the use of force. It would appear that fear and greed are the motivations of the ruling classes. They tell us that greed is good, that private consumption trumps public programs and that a larger gross national product is desirable even if it pollutes our environment and exhausts planetary resources. Our founding fathers offered participation to a select segment of the public through the elective process but our elites act to subvert the legislative process. One need look no further than the recent bankruptcy reform or the health care reform fiasco for examples.

Sadly, most of us cooperate in our own rape and that of the planet by endorsing a political system where both political parties support and are funded by corporate interests. Is the purpose of economic activity to advance corporate interests, to provide more toys to the public, to provide for the national defense or to build healthy communities for healthy people? Prioritizing such options is important public business but the decisions are left to those who profit from staying the course. As your homes are being repossessed, your toys are for sale on the sidewalk and your retirement funds shrink ask yourself whether this broken system is one which you wish to give your children.

John Gibson

Blooming Prairie