Listening to reporters on Fox News talk about the “Occupy” movement would make one think that the people roaming the streets are thugs who want to see the end of capitalism. And maybe that really is part of their message, even though the protesters may not understand the economics of capitalism (because true, free-market capitalism really is the essence of liberty).
But look closer to the people wandering – and what are they mad at? They are mad at CRONY-capitalism and the ineffective efforts of government to regulate them (since the people at the federal level of government are generally the same people who are involved with “big banks” and “Wallstreet”). These people marching have been hurt in their pocketbook (like most all of us have), and they are taking to the streets because they feel this distress. Some of these people may really be “bad people”, but I believe that most of them believe in what most Americans believe in – and that is justice.
In the past 5-10 years, our federal government has effectively bankrupted our country. The foundations have been laid for over a hundred years, but the effects of this are taking place. The twelve private banks that determine how much our money is worth by determining interest rates, using inflation and printing money (The Federal Reserve), are pulling the strings on how much your dollar is worth – that means how much food and gas you can purchase. Since these banks are private, they really have no direct interest in the public good or the well-being of the people they affect. Now, isn’t what I just said something that both liberals and conservatives can agree on?
I have talked to thousands of people – and there is a common sentiment, “It is getting harder and harder to make it”. This has come from people who have nothing more than a car to live in, to multi-millionaires who had built amazing businesses but are considering shutting down. Is the problem that people are not being taxed enough? NO. We all pay way too much in taxes. Our problem is that the federal government has too much money to throw away – and they have done a find job of that.
People are marching in the streets, for the most part, because they are sick of the corruption. There is corruption in large corporations and there is corruption in every branch of government. The problem is the CORRUPTION – not necessarily the system itself. Capitalism is the essence of freedom if everyone has the same opportunity. That equal opportunity is something of the past – there is NOT a fair playing ground, and that is what many of these people are protesting.
I am a staunch Constitutionalist and I know what would bring equal opportunity back to our country – getting rid of all the illegal and unconstitutional rules on the books. This would mean that the income tax would have to be re-evaluated and a simpler tax code put in place (no more death tax, miniscule capital gains tax if ANY). This would mean that the federal government would get out of the business of choosing winners and losers. This would mean that States would take on social and environmental issues. At the end of the day, it would decentralize these initiatives and programs which would bring more jobs back to localities, and that means, for my district – more jobs in southern and western Colorado. I want decisions for my community being made closer to home – not in D.C.
We can agree on that – average American people want to keep more of their money and they want the value of the dollar to be sound. And if we can see that, then we can all protest against the CORRUPTION in both big businesses and big government. So let’s work together for that equal opportunity. I think there is a pretty good document that covered some of this…
