Excerpt #104 from my book, Religion, An Obstacle to Human Progress
Our political campaign finance system is driven by a surplus of greed and a shortage of common sense.
It provides our powerful and wealthy citizens access to and influence over a corrupted Congress.
It is an ominous game.
At stake is our form of government and our way of life.
At stake is democracy.
The word democracy means rule by the people.
Abraham Lincoln described it as “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” not government of some people, by some people, for some people.
Democracy recognizes the intrinsic value of widespread and broad-based input.
It invites the richness of diversity.
It recognizes the fundamental dignity and equality of all people.
Democracy says do not look only to yourself and like-minded for answers.
Avail yourself of that which others have to offer for life is diverse.
Democracy says do not be rigid.
Be open and adaptable for life is dynamic and changing.
Democracy says do not make participation exclusive.
Make it inclusive for life is all-encompassing.
Democracy says do not gravitate to extremes.
Seek moderation for life requires balance.
Democracy says do not represent only those who have influence.
Represent all for life demands justice.
Finally, democracy says do not tamper with this process for it is your lifeblood.
Democracy is compromised when capitalism’s profits play a disproportionate role in electing candidates to public office.
When office holders reward their benefactors, democracy is vanquished.
This legal form of institutionalized corruption is a gross violation of democracy.
When government is controlled by those who seek profit above the welfare of the common good, the democratic process is nullified.
In its place is plutocracy; government of, by, and for the wealthy.
TO MISUSE POWER IS TO EXHIBIT WEAKNESS.
Rage and fear grow among those who experience economic insecurity.
For them, instead of a sense of community, a vacuum forms that is filled with anxiety and despair.
Wealth and power, intoxicating and irresistible, blind us to these disparities and their ominous consequences.
THE TYRANNY OF THE POWERFUL RESULTS IN THE ANARCHY OF THE POWERLESS.