I was born in 1963. Being born black means I was born with
the inability to vote. So often I stop to wonder why skin color prevented me
from having such a privilege. I wondered
why it was important and how I was granted the power to execute a basic right.
I grew up and examined the purpose of voting. I also examined what has been
done to control that right.
We all know what gerrymandering is. We all know what
redistricting is. But do we understand
why? Voting remains the single obligation of every citizen. Why has the 99%
continued to keep the 1%’s system in place? Voting by party or popularity is
absurd. When will we break the 1%’s dominance? The notion that families feel
entitled to office shows WE have not done our jobs as citizens. The dominance
must end.
The scary fact that the Bushs and the Clintons feel they
own the office is one matter; the fact that WE have supported them is another.
I feel the second is much more disturbing. Are our political offices family
heirlooms or do they belong to the people? Do the 99% of US believe the nation
belongs to the 1%?
Laws are our checks and balances to justice. If those who
make law remain above it, it stands to reason that the laws are for the 99% of
US. The terms, US and us are interchangeable, as it is us and the US who are
affected by law. Law implies consequences and penalties for actions designated
as lawful and unlawful. Courage should not be the quality that determines who
is allowed to break the law. Influence should not determine who gets to break
the law. The law is the law.
Examine all the stories of Christie emerging now. We must
not forget that all he has done has been allowed. He has operated with impunity
to the point where he himself believes he can do whatever he wants. He did not arrive at this conclusion
overnight, it is a cumulative assumption based on what he has gotten away with.
He and his buddies, those he has appointed and used his office to benefit have
enjoyed the protection of the fear and money.
We that have spread news of his offenses have taken a stand. We have also looked to the same system that
allowed him to operate illegally for help. I contend that the NJ legislators
should have defended the people of NJ.
His settlement with EXXON has been so glaringly corrupt some
action may be taken. Asking questions about his activities is not in my humble
opinion, enough. Only by holding him accountable will NJ send a message that
all may understand. Other Governors have lost their positions for a lot less. What
makes him so different? The call to
impeach President Clinton certainly pales by comparison of offenses for calls
to have Christie impeached and held accountable for the billions he has cost
NJ. Others have resigned for less.
The betrayal of trust of a public servant is egregious. Are
the machinations of a career politician common place and acceptable? When does it end?
Does it end when the 1% dictates as the image becomes so tarnished Christie is of
no use to them? What about Christie’s use to the people of NJ? He has been
against us in the interest of his own selfish gain for years. The closer he
became to being a Presidential Candidate the worse it got for NJ. NJ has asked
for help in stopping him and saving the entire US from his corruption.
They say the greedy and selfish can never have enough. Well
the 99% here in NJ have had enough. We pray that he is held accountable. We
have to pray because justice is not as swift for him as it is for the 99%. Examine all the poor in prisons who simply
could not pay fines, fees, or penalties whose cases proceed without delay. They
do not add up to the amount of NJ money that Christie has absconded from NJ.
The fact that he has used NJ money to become what he is to the Republican Party
is concerning. I emphasis this is not about party. This is about the type of
PEOPLE who find value in his deeds.
We must examine the type of people who find value in his
actions. We must also examine the type of people who find value in the actions
of Mrs. Clinton. Who among us, the 99%, could not be prosecuted for the offenses
brought to light? It is not about finding the best lawyer money can buy. That
would mean they would be brought into court. There has not been a charge
prosecuted as of this moment in time. There has been no real accountability as
we in NJ and potentially the US are left to suffer the arrogance fostered by
impunity.
I have no urge to break the law as I regard the law as
enforcement of rules by which we all must abide. I thank bloggers and press for
their courage in bringing these acts to light. In all of this I contend that we
all, as VOTERS must make sure the opportunities for the corrupt to execute their
plans be minimized. We cannot keep putting them in office. They need the
votes of the 99%. We the 99% need to rise to our responsibility of protecting ourselves
as they have proven they will do whatever it takes to accumulate more wealth
for themselves and their friends.
I submit that VOTING is our power. We must not give our
power to those who feel entitled to office simply because a family member held
it previously. Oddly business and principles that govern them operate the Government.
As a business principle the people who are ineffective get fired. Those who do
not produce corporate gains are fired. The 99% must embrace that principle. We
all lose at the hands of those who do not handle our business and make gains
for us. They that ask us to do more with less yet they themselves continue to
gain more.
I implore you all to VOTE responsibly and more often. I also urge you to
vote for your own interest. Make a call to your representatives to remind them
they represent you the 99%. It is one call that could save NJ and the US
billions. They have yet to make it illegal to hide things in bills and
legislation. The Christie administration has failed us in NJ. What we are finding
is that all these illegal actions are related to him, those he hired, or got
hired. What we also know is the more we dig the more we find. What we don’t
know is which crimes if any, he will be prosecuted.
Never forget that the courts we face owe us
justice. The same courts that prosecute us are responsible for prosecuting him.
The beginning is for the 99% of us to have the backing of the NJ Legislators.
Therein is our power. The NJ legislators must know prosecuting Christie must be
seen as justice for those they represent in NJ, not just a way to save their
own political careers.
Do your homework on candidates. As you take your car to be serviced or your children to someone
to be cared for I am certain you consider their expertise, care, and record.
You also consider how they treat you. Are they courteous and professional? Are
they practiced and professionally certified? Do they deliver as promised? Then why do we allow
career politicians to operate any differently? They master the tools that keep
them in office. They know what to say to whatever audience is before them. Now
we have the ability to share their messages in ways they really must consider.
We should expect them to be convincing, charming, and
beguiling. There is one more thing we should expect. We should expect them to
simply keep their word as they swear on a bible to represent us, all of us, not
big donors or the machine that is entrenched.
They swear to uphold, not circumvent the law. We are at a point where it
has fallen to us VOTERS to elect those who will abide by the law. We can no longer expect them to resign when
they get caught breaking the law and our trust.
This is not about rhetoric. It is about responsibility and
understanding our responsibility as voters. Many have died and suffered that women
and blacks be allowed to vote. Those who have always had the power to do so remain
interested in keeping it. The least we can do is honor and exercise the rights
many have worked so hard for us to obtain.
Thomas Jefferson stated that the purpose for public education was that the public would learn how to govern itself. We must ask our selves if Public Education is supported would it produce a more socially and politically aware constituency? Maybe that is why it remains unfunded, exploited, and the target of those who wish to destroy it. That is another topic for another time. For now, focus on using the power of the 99%. It is our voices and our choices that allow those in seats of power to remain.
Politics is a career of making promises but public service is a lifestyle of keeping them.--AJC
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