May 02, 2006
Tuesday

I always find it interesting that both of our major political parties claim to possess a monopoly on personal freedoms, regarding Representative Kohring's references to a "government [which] promotes freedom and stays out of people's lives instead of dictating business..." Since I am not any part of the modern political machine we commonly refer to as "business," I don't see the taxation or regulation of business as any particular infringement on my own personal freedoms. Instead, I am finding it increasingly difficult to teach my seniors that we are a nation whose republic is at all democratic. It seems less and less "of, by or for the people" every year, as the influence and involvement of the average citizen decreases and thatof big business continues to grow.

The average Joe is unable to afford health insurance, yet the industry is able with extensive advertising campaigns to strike fear in the heart of the average American by saying that universal health care would tear down the entire system.

In a utopian society, pork barrel projects that smack of waste would be replaced by the security of affordable and available health care and education for all. In an ideal world, we would be able to maintain our form of government and still be able to make sure that everyone's basic needs would be covered. However, we don't live in an ideal, utopian society, we live in a capitalist society where members of both of our major parties are all but controlled by big business interests. Yes, it sounds almost X-Files-esqe/government conspiracy-ish to say, but even today, the Jim Taylors of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and the Mr. Potters of Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life" are still very much alive and well.

Why not reduce the power of the oil or other business interests and try to go back to some semblance of democracy rather than the aristocracy we're slowly becoming? Why not tax them? After all, regardless of all the political rhetoric and business-sponsored propaganda's claims, when we give them tax breaks, there is no trickle-down effect. You and I don't benefit. The fat cats just get fatter. Let BP, Exxon, et al pay. What are they going to do, just go away otherwise? Of course not, we've made a neglible effort to transition to alternate energy sources; we are a nation wholly dependant on oil until every last bit of it is drilled, why not try to keep the programs to which we've become accustomed as long as we can?

Dionne Jackson
Sitka, AK - USA

About: Dionne Jackson (Dionne Brady-Howard) was raised in Sitka her entire life, where she currently participates in two of six local Tlingit dance groups. She writes, "I am a "highly qualified" (in accordance with No Child Left Behind) teacher of World Geography and American Government at Alaska's only state-funded public boarding school. I am married into Ketchikan's Jackson family."

Related Viewpoint:

A Warning to Alaskans by Rep. Vic Kohring - AK - USA

 

 

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