Corruption in government—an age-old problem that’s about as welcome as a skunk at a garden party. So why do we allow it? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you’d think. It involves a mix of ignorance, distraction, and vested interests. Let’s break it down.
The Blissful Ignorance of the Masses
First off, many people are simply unaware that corruption exists. Most folks are so bogged down by their daily grind that they barely have time to keep up with what the government’s doing—or not doing. It’s not that they don’t care; it’s that they’re too busy caring about other things like work, family, and making ends meet.
Bread and Circuses: The Ancient Strategy
The corrupt government employs an age-old tactic to keep the masses docile: provide bread and circuses. In modern terms, this means making sure people are fed and entertained. Obesity is a bigger problem in the United States than starvation, and the government-supported entertainment complex of Hollywood, MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL keeps everyone glued to their big-screen TVs. Gambling is now mostly legal nationwide, and alcohol is cheap. Who has time to worry about corruption when the new season of your favorite show just dropped?
The Beneficiaries of Corruption
Politicians are shrewd. They ensure that corruption benefits a significant portion of the population. Here’s a breakdown:
- Tax Evaders: The 40% to 50% of people who don’t pay federal income taxes aren’t exactly clamoring for a system overhaul. Why rock the boat if it means they might have to pay up?
- Elderly Entitlements: Millions of elderly folks believe they’re entitled to hefty monthly checks, which leads to impoverished children. They’re not about to support changes that could reduce their benefits.
- Health Care Beneficiaries: Around thirty million people have seen their health care costs slashed by national health schemes, and they’re not interested in reforms that could strip them of these benefits, even if it means others suffer.
- Government Employees: Millions of government workers, along with their unions, resist cuts to corrupt and wasteful programs. Their jobs and benefits depend on the status quo.
- Urban Political Machines: Federal funds often end up in the hands of organized crime-related urban political machines, buying both patronage and enforcement muscle.
The Daunting Task of Fighting Corruption
For those of us who want to combat corruption, the task seems Herculean. The roots of corruption in the U.S. go back to the Civil War, which fundamentally changed the relationship between the federal government, the states, and individual citizens. This war killed about 3% of the population—a staggering figure. Today, that would be around 10 million people. Who among us is willing to make such a sacrifice to clean up corruption? Would it even work?
Rigged Elections: The Heart of the Problem
The U.S. election system has been rigged since the late 19th century. The switch from having no official political parties, candidates, or government-printed ballots to a system where ballots and candidates are controlled by the government and the dominant political parties has entrenched corruption.
What Can We Do?
So, what can you and I do to fight this systemic corruption?
Don’t Vote for the Corrupt
First, never vote for anyone aligned with the corrupt, unconstitutional, and treasonous Republican-Democratic Party. This means I don’t vote much because they control who can run for office in my area and don’t like competition. I advise you to do the same.
Support Fair Elections
I’ve been supporting fair election lawsuits and causes. When I retire, I hope to explore how to remove the official status of the Republican-Democratic parties in my area and return to elections as the Founders intended—a slate of candidates running on their own merit rather than a chosen party candidate running unopposed.
The Insanity of Partisan Election Officials
The height of insanity and corruption is that we have partisan election officials whose jobs depend on themselves and their party members winning the elections they’re in charge of. It’s like letting the fox guard the henhouse.
The short answer to why we allow corruption in government is multifaceted: most people don’t realize it exists, the government ensures enough people benefit from it to make it hard to fight back, and even if we did fight back, the system offers no peaceful way to effect positive change. It’s a grim picture, but recognizing the problem is the first step toward addressing it.
So, next time you’re enjoying that big game on your large-screen TV, remember: the bread and circuses are just a distraction. The real game is happening behind the scenes, and the stakes are much higher.
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