As the Election Approaches...

Today, Senator Jon Kerry , announced his running mate would be fellow Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.

The presidential candidate comes from a background of wealth and privilege. The vice presidential candidate comes from a working-class background.

Let's hope these candidates, who display at least some of the diversity that exists in United States, if they are elected, perhaps they can help reconnect American federal government to the people in some way.

In the last decades, the federal government policy has shifted from one which seeks to actively intervene in the lives of citizens, to one that is more detached and which considers programs with social benefit to be a form of socialism and therefore un-American.

In these past decades , the gap between the rich and poor has grown significantly. The top 50% of income earners in America control 90% of the wealth. That means that the bottom half have to divide up only 10%. In other words, half of the country has to fight over the scraps.

This is not to say that we should simply create more programs to give money to the needy, but are we investing in our society? Are we investing enough in our schools and our colleges? Are we creating the opportunity for people to succeed and become prosperous, or are our tax dollars going primarily to support programs that benefit corporations and ensure the continuation of the military policies that have brought us the war on terror?

I have heard more than once, when tuning into the Rush Limbaugh show, the voice of listeners saying that they wish they could take their tax dollars away from these "social programs that are ruining America," and have them used for some other purpose.

I feel the same way when I read about the money that's being invested in weapons systems that may not be necessary, such as the "Star Wars" missile defense system that is being ramrodded through Congress.

Can I elect for my tax dollars to not be spent on such a wasteful endeavor?

Couple the billions for that with the billions being spent in Iraq, and we have a huge drain on resources that could otherwise be used to create more educated people in America, a better infrastructure, a stronger middle class, greater social stability, or could go to targeted aid to help out the poorest countries of the world.

Instead we have the fund for Iraqi reconstruction hemorrhaging billions to unscrupulous contractors to repair damage done by a decade of US support of Saddam, the First Gulf War, another decade of sanctions against Iraq, and a second war in Iraq.

We have hammered Iraq for twenty years, and now Iraqis continue to pay in insecurity, and the American taxpayer continues to fork tax dollars over.

Who is reaping the benefit of these tax dollars?

Is it those who need a boost, even the Iraqi people, or is it those connected Americans who already enjoy the security and power that wealth brings?

What is the purpose of the US's existence?

Is it to control the world through military might?

Is that how we will be, in Ronald Reagan's words, "a shining city on a hill"?

Our emphasis as a nation is in the wrong place.

This emphasis is put where it is, on military might, by a leadership who sees war as the best way to control events around the world.

Because of this world view, we will live under the specter of endless warfare, until we realize what is happening and use our democratic rights to change our society and its leadership.

This begins with the American People understanding the reality of the nation that they live in, rather than the myth.

It requires getting beyond the simplified, comic book, good and evil view of the world promoted by national leadership.

Americans need to put more effort into understanding the issues, and the full history behind them, so that they understand all aspects of current events, and not just the simplified and sanitized version presented by the mainstream media.

We should be working toward a nation that makes sure that everyone has healthcare, that does its best provide jobs for everyone who wants one, and strives to make better jobs overseas, to provide an education to everyone who wants one, to create a fair playing field for all workers. Our nation should emphasize education and the development of constructive technology, rather than technology that is too often used for destructive purposes.

Let's hope that Senators Kerry and Edwards are able to envision something positive for America rather than simply excepting the negative vision of the war on terror that is the current mainstream thinking.

It takes work to make Something Better. We can all create this if we realize that we can and we choose to do it.

Universal