Motivation Monday for October 3, 2011 ~ Our Political System and Chris Christie

Oct. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- The group of protesters on Wall Street we discussed last week has grown and hundreds have now been arrested by the NYPD.  While this group has grown and they state that they are fighting against corporate greed, it’s really a symptom of a failed political system.  Is New Jersey Governor Chis Chistie really the answer?

We have seen revolution and social outcries for justice all over the world this summer and governments have been overthrown.  This group of protesters that have been near Wall Street for the past few weeks represent the most significant display of public disobedience in America in years.  They are protesting not only “corporate greed,” but the cause of it.

Americans have been watching Wall Street, the financial industry and Banking Executives make millions of dollars, as small business owners, the middle class and the unemployed watch the economy falter.  While the protesters are right and justified in drawing our attention to this injustice, the cause of this injustice is a failed political system.

Please note that this is not an accusation or political slander of the current administration, so that you, the reader can just dismiss it.  The financial collapse in America had been brewing for over a decade and that’s the point. It’s not the criminal or corrupt behavior of Wall Street, the financial industry, its regulators or Banking Executives, however, it is the failure of the very political system that we have entrusted to control it and prevent this from happening.

In the meantime, almost every American has to have seen the news clip of an audience member telling New Jersey Governor Chris Christie that his country needs him to run for President.  While that is an amazing comment and one that almost any politician would dream of, how would Presidential Candidate Chris Christie, be any different than anyone else?

One of the things that makes him so appealing now, is that he is NOT running.  He doesn’t really have to watch what he says nor does he have to be concerned if people from all across America like him or not.  He can take his shots at the current administration, which is a pretty popular thing to do, as it was during the Bush Administration.

Once he becomes a candidate, he will have people telling him what to say and not say.  He will no doubt have a variety of coaches and strategists that will tell him what to say and do, like dozens of Presidential Candidates have before him.  And, of course, like any good candidate he will have a standard “stump speech” that he will deliver all across America, kiss babies, shake hands and hold rallies with the people that will support him.  Mostly Republicans.  Just like dozens of Presidential Candidates before him.

That’s the problem!

The definition of “insanity” is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.  That is the American political system.

We listen to the same “stump speeches” every election cycle and certainly every Presidential election cycle and yet, we still expect something different.  That makes us Americans either, insane, gullible or gluttons for punishment.

Think back upon all of the Presidential campaigns you can remember.  Presidential candidates promise to not increase taxes; watch out for the middle class; take care of seniors, some form of patriotic pitch that America’s best days are ahead and people buy it.

The American political system requires an enormous system of volunteers and ground forces in order to get a candidate on the ballot never mind, winning an election.  Many of the people that are involved in that political system are looking for something in return.  I remember from my one campaign for public office how those that represent special interests or help get you elected make sure that you know as a candidate that it wasn’t for free.  I was the underdog in the campaign and on election night I was up by 10 points with about 50% of the vote in.  Things looked pretty good for an upset.  As I left our home town convention to head for the County Convention, the head of the PBA said to me, “remember our deal!”  A not so subtle reminder that their support or help getting me elected wasn’t free. I lost a close race.

Unfortunately, I think, most Americans believe that the political system is corrupt and that is sad. Some accept it for what it is and other try to take advantage of it for what it is.  

It’s time for us to seriously start looking for an alternative solution to the two-party system. The Tea Party represents an organization that is trying to do that, but the media have already marginalized them and demonized them.  If you truly remain objective and look at what they stand for, they are simply a group of people that are sick of how things were going and wanted a change.  They don’t want to be “insane.”  They don’t want the status quo or the same political rhetoric.

It’s time for us to start thinking as Americans…and stop thinking as Republicans or Democrats.  We need to start thinking about what we DO have in common not what we don’t have in common that divides us.  We are collectively losing our credibility around the world, as well as letting down our children and grandchildren.

We, as Americans need to find a new way of choosing and electing a candidate that has no obligation to the status quo or the power brokers that have corrupted the system.  We need a candidate and eventually a President that will truly be transparent and expose all of those that have taken advantage of us and the system that is broken.  

Is Governor Chris Chistie the answer?  Who knows.  In the end America, it’s up to us!  Are you game?