I Am A Voter.

I have voted in all but one election since turning eighteen. The one I missed was when I was working a s a poll worker and forgot to send in my absentee ballot. In addition to making my wishes known at the ballot box, I frequently write my legislators about issues that concern me. I write to state and federal agencies and attend to occasional county board or city council meeting as well. Instead of listening objectively to the testimony and concerns that I voice, most "representatives" look at the ceiling, or their watch, probably making mental notes on how they are going to spend their summer holiday. The few who are paying marginal attention are specifically listening for key words that they can use to either shut me down, tune me out or paint my entire testimony as tainted with the same gawdawful disdain that they deem appropriate for anyone who ever questions the wisdom of the oligarchs.

I do not shy away from speaking about issues that concern many. Even when I am in the company of those who are frustrated and who have given up hope, I still try to express a more clear and precise view of what is really going on around us, ecologically, politically, economically and educationally. My main point is to remind folks that the media, as it is currently owned by the very same ultra-wealthy folks who receive the lion's share of government welfare, therefore, their opinions and "truths" reflect a certain ignorance. Like a child who has never had to pay rent or buy food, it is easy for them to see that all things come to them. They accept this unquestionably as the way it should be, or the natural order of things, etc. The real costs of things never seem to matter to those who get someone else to foot the bill.

There have been two times in my thirty six years of voting that I have picked a winner for President, however those two times were overshadowed by the extremely different outcomes that took place during the terms of office of those candidates than what they had said they would accomplish during their time in office. I admit that in one of those two times, I fell for the "lesser of two evils" argument. Only once did I actually believe that the candidate would stand up for the general public against the ultra-wealthy. Sadly, Congress is in the pocket of the well-heeled superminority. The 1% are without shame in their dictates and mandates that they saddle the rest of us with. Never mind the fact that they refuse to comply with any efforts to restrain them in their gluttony and avarice.

It is as revolutionary to say "I am a voter." as to say "I am a man." The vast majority of Americans are summarily ignored by the ultra-wealthy in favor of their own wants and "needs". The time has come to vote the buggers out, for good.