{"id":1929,"date":"2007-07-03T15:51:00","date_gmt":"2007-07-03T21:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/07\/its-time-to-take-the-next-step-in-our-independence\/"},"modified":"2007-07-03T15:51:00","modified_gmt":"2007-07-03T21:51:00","slug":"its-time-to-take-the-next-step-in-our-independence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/07\/its-time-to-take-the-next-step-in-our-independence\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s time to take the next step in our independence"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>As we celebrate Independence Day, we should be thankful for those who took up arms to win us the right more than two centuries ago to openly debate and have a voice in determining what\u2019s best for our future, and those who have continued to fight, when necessary, to protect our independence. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

We must also realize the struggle for independence is a constant battle we haven\u2019t yet won.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

According to dictionary.com<\/a>, to be independent means to be free from the control and influence of others. America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, to be truly independent, should be a nation whose course is determined by its citizenry.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Government at the local, state and federal level is influenced too heavily by corporations that have profit margins, not the good of America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s citizens, at heart. That is still a hindrance to independence, 231 years after our nations\u2019 founding.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

In the 21st Century, corporate money has more power over American government than do America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s citizens. One has only to look at the influence of political action committees on elections or the stranglehold oil has on our foreign policy to realize this truth.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s young people are especially conscious of this fact. John Mayer sings these words in his song Waiting on the World to Change<\/a>: \u201cIt\u2019s not that we don\u2019t care, we just know that the fight ain\u2019t fair\u2026 (But) One day our generation is gonna rule the population.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s young people view their government with cynicism. Most of our leaders get into politics for the right reasons, but most are quickly swallowed up by a system controlled by corporate money. They can see that many politicians are more interested in sound bites and headlines, in catchy phrases and slogans, than they are in discussing issues and finding real solutions.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

They can see that isn\u2019t only the fault of the politicians, either. The mainstream media, strapped for cash and competing for the attention of viewers, generally oversimplifies the news. Politicians have to give snappy quotes or they\u2019re likely to be misquoted or not quoted at all.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The media isn\u2019t entirely to blame, either. It provides shallow news, and gives more importance to Brangelina and Britney than Iraq<\/st1:country-region> and Iran<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, because it sells. Americans are more likely to pick up a newspaper whose top headline is \u201c(Insert any generic Hollywood<\/st1:city> name here) caught in shower with three young boys\u201d than one whose top headline is \u201cEarthquake kills 80,000 in Gabon<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Many Americans aren\u2019t motivated to be involved<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The sad reality is that too many Americans don\u2019t care much about genocide in Darfur, global warming or a state treasurer who stole millions from taxpayers, as long as they can feed their kids and have money left over for trips to the movies and four-wheelers. They see the system\u2019s problems, but are comfortable enough that they aren\u2019t motivated to change it.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Many who don\u2019t have that level of comfort won\u2019t vote anyway. They\u2019ve been disenfranchised for so long that they wrongly believe their voices don\u2019t matter. Or, like the youth, they just don\u2019t believe they can make a difference.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

They\u2019re wrong. Corporations have so much influence over America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s government because Americans allow it. The next step in our nation\u2019s independence is reducing that influence.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

There are some easy ways to start the process. New Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state> needs to follow the majority of states and the federal government and place limits on campaign contributions. Government at all levels needs to put in place other checks on the influence of corporations. Lobbyists are an important part of the process, but their role should be to sell their employers\u2019 stances with policy arguments \u2013 not with food, wine and corporate jets.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Corporate influence is daunting, and politicians won\u2019t change the system without pressure from citizens. Why would any politician who is afraid to lose his or her position stand up to corporate influence if the voices calling for change aren\u2019t, collectively, more powerful than corporate executives and lobbyists dropping money in their bank accounts?<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Citizens need to devote time to government involvement. Don\u2019t think you have time to vote? Your employer is required to give it to you. Don\u2019t think you have time to keep up with the issues? Check out cable news during the commercials of your favorite TV shows. Don\u2019t think you have time to write an e-mail to your congressman? Take a five-minute break at work to get it done. Don\u2019t think you have time to call your state legislator or city councilor? Use your cell phone and hands-free set while you\u2019re driving to work in the morning.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The vast majority of Americans who aren\u2019t involved use time as an excuse, but the reality is that most of them just aren\u2019t motivated.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let comfort or disenfranchisement get in the way of our nation\u2019s independence. It\u2019s too important.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we celebrate Independence Day, we should be thankful for those who took up arms to win us the right more than two centuries ago to openly debate and have a voice in determining what\u2019s best for our future, and those who have continued to fight, when necessary, to protect our independence. We must also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1929\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}