Another Monday….

Another Monday, Another government shutdown has come…

Once again we see that the two party system is not working in this country. This current historical shutdown is brought to you by a government that is controlled by one party through the Presidency, House of Reps, and Senate, which in itself looking at it at face value seems almost daunting to say the least.

IMG_1024I was texting fellow LitTube members  Justin and Mario this morning, nothing out of the ordinary honestly, but then it hit me as I was watching the news from my Tablet, how is it with all this technology the people don’t have more of a voice, how is it with all this technology that we have these government shutdowns?

Now you’re probably sitting there wondering What the hell I’m talking about, which is find, allow me to explain…

Before I begin and go in depth how about a little back story. As most of our regular readers and fans know I work in the tech industry for one of the biggest tech giants in the game! In the last half a decade since I was hired, I’ve seen advances in technology that have blown my mind, I’ve seen how much our society relies on technology. More importantly I’ve seen just how accessible technology is. I was born in 1989, and my house did not have internet until 2001. There wasn’t that much of a dramatic need for it until then honestly. It is now 2018 and those days have changed, where internet, technology, and data has virtually been fully integrated into our society. We do so much on the web and through our technology, which is why the FCC trying to deregulate internet is such a big issue for us. Even as you read this, you’re probably on your smartphone, on a tablet, or on your computer. You probably accessed this very article from the WordPress, Facebook, or Twitter app where this very post has been shared. You are the biggest evidence in my following point.

So lets get down to business…

As I prowl social media, engaging with the public, and researching, I’ve heard one common denominator from all sides: Lack of trust in the way our government is ran. Youimg_8954 can’t go more than one political Facebook post without someone complaining about how corrupt a politician is, or about how they just can’t get along, or how they personally don’t feel heard. It’s something that I even feel personally.  We vote out of necessity and hope for a better tomorrow. We vote hoping that the suit that’s elected to office will give a damn about our individual needs and do what’s best for us. We are selfish and honestly that’s fine! When it comes to the law of survival, self-preservation is key! I want someone in government to represent me and to do what’s best to my personal beliefs, and in hopes it makes the Country a better place. That’s all fine and dandy. Now this is where my article travels down the fantasy path so let’s strap in.

img_8959          Most of you have iPhones, or Android. Some have Microsoft phones; other may just have a tablet or a basic computer. Nonetheless most have technology. Imagine a world where you did have an actual voice. What if your actual vote mattered? Not saying your vote does, but what if the vote you casted had a direct impact on what happens. That’s the world I dream of: A full democracy.

Now we’re at the point of the article where you’re starting to think I’ve gone mad. Most of the people in this country have some type of device. Something that connects to the internet, let’s be honest, most of these devices are overpriced, so if need be img_8958subsidized devices could even be given to the less fortunate. Imagine an app, and we’ll call it “AmeriGov”. It’s an app in this imaginary Democracy where every issue is posted. Polls are open for a particular period depending on importance and issue. Citizens would use their fingerprint, or social security number, or some type of identifier to let the app know they are a registered citizen to cast a vote on key issues in this country.

img_8962Personally I believe it would cut out a lot of corruption that goes on in our system of government. By using a full democracy, and putting the power into the literal hands of the people, corporations, and businesses would have to respect people. For example, if an oil company wants to run a pipeline through a town out west, due to the power of the people, that company would have to meet with the citizens of that state or town and come to an agreement, then that agreement would be voted on. End of the story.  Another example would be the case for legalization for marijuana. Why not have a national vote to see what if that’s what the people want.

img_8975To a lot of people this can be an intimidating process, and to those in power this may never happen… But I see polls on television all the time on social issues ranging from subjects of Abortion, to Marijuana Legalization, to the death penalty. And in a lot of issues I may not always img_8977agree with what the public result of that poll is, I honestly respect it a lot more then when a majority of the People of this nation agree on something, but when Congress passes something, or decides on something in a different direction. It feels like a slap in the face and can leave a lot of people disenfranchised, and feeling like their votes don’t count. How many times have we seen just in our lifetimes, the popular vote go one way, and the Electoral College go another way.

The point I’m really trying to make is simple… Even with this most recent Government img_8955img_8956shutdown soon coming to an end, it’s an indication that this country has serious issues in the way it’s run. It may be a pipe dream to envision a nation ran by the voice of the people, and not by the wallets of corporations. We have people who represent us that have been in office since the img_89611970s and earlier. It was never intended for a seat in the House of Representatives, or Senate to be a job you can retire from. That to me seems like a slap in the face of the Constitution. If Presidents have term limits, then no doubt our Congress should as well. No we don’t have a full democracy, it’s a beautiful dream and definitely would force people to pay attention to the issues, but we do still have an obligation to vote…

img_8979The last government shutdown happened in 2013… It’s now 2018, and there are still on both sides too many familiar faces…

 

 

 

 

 Gerald Royster is editor of MaxLit  Media and News Group and a contributor to Hill1New. For more articles from Gerald, please visit MaxLit.com

Article reprinted with permission. All rights are reserved.

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