As the election draws near, so does the mud slinging. I hear people talk about "out with Obama," but I don't feel Obama is the problem. Congress is the problem, as well as the broken systems they manage that serve only to perpetuate our decline. Ironically, people will continue to "buy in" to all the Presidential campaign bologna, and continue to ignore the real problem...our Congress.
It doesn;t matter who you elect as President, for the problems don't go away until the people that got us here do...the corrupt and self-serving Congress. Stop thinking one person can fix this, for one cannot...but 311 million can.
Get real, people.

Think about it, we are supposed to be a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people...but when was the last time we all participated in the decision making of any landmark issue? Something that affected most or all of us? Clearly, we have many issues and challenges facing the country, but who will ultimately decide the solution or outcome? Will the public be presented proposals by our elected leaders, for our ultimate approval or disapproval, or will a backroom deal be struck without anyone ever hearing our voice, or even asking our opinion?

So I'm drowning in more news about the Occupy movement, who raised havoc in Oakland last night...and I have a couple questions:

If their mission is to effect positive change, why is their message not focused and clear?
What purpose does it serve to destroy property, injure people, and cost the local municipalities millions of dollars in precious resources?
Who is funding what can only be described as a massive block party?
Why is there no public leader?
Who stands to benefit from what they're doing?
Who is accountable for the group's actions?

It's pretty obvious, if you just look past the sensationalism. The organizers and funders of this movement are just manipulating vulnerable people into participating in something that serves only one purpose...to line their own pockets. The funders seek to gain support, which in turn benefits them, and the faceless organizers stand to benefit in several ways...personal notoriety at some point, likely financial gains, and likely accomplishing some personal mission via thousands of unknowing participants.
Once again, an effort with no results...except for a chosen few. Even worse, there's no accountability for the wake of destruction they leave behind..
Are we that shallow as a society to "buy in" to this crap, or are we going to start asking questions, and get some real answers? Take the blinders off people.
  

It's amazing to me how many people will jump on the "bitch train," more than happy to offer their opinion on a given topic. However, when the conversation turns to the "action wagon" most of them scatter like roaches when the light is turned on. 
Therein lies the problem, folks.
You see, to maintain a democratic society, you have to be willing to participate. It's kinda the whole point. When people stop participating, and just leave it to someone else, i.e., the government, you have a material breakdown of the foundation.
Many people believe we have been on the slow road to Socialism or Communism for quite some time...as early as the beginning of the 20th century. I say we're closer than you think. Most people appear to have becomed conditioned to take a hands off approach, preferring to criticize rather than participate. If you look at how much control we have given to the government, it's pretty clear. Deny it all you want, bury your head in the sand if you will... but when you come up for air one day, don't be surprised to see your way of life changed.
Ironically, as addicted to sensationalism as we've become, people will invest more time in watching their favorite reality TV shows than they will fighting to preserve a way of life. Sad but true. 
It's a choice people. Plug back in or have it taken away. Some of the brightest minds have been warning us for decades...maybe it's time, at the very least, to open our minds up to the possibility that democracy is at risk, and do something before it's too late.
I will continue my effort, and if it fails due to lack of support, that will be a shame. I'll know that I gave it an honest effort....more than most people will do, and that I attempted to be a part of a solution rather than simply another part of the problem.
In the end, if it fails, it will due to the fact people made a choice...they simply chose their fate. Someone told me long ago, "when people fail at something, it's because they don't know, or they don't care."
Well, our mission is to raise awareness  

You can contribute to the problem, or contribute to the solution. In my opinion, the recent "occupy" movement does nothing to contribute to a solution. There's no obvious focus, no process by which they are pursuing effective change, and they are not working within an established framework to accomplish anything. From where I stand, they simply create a wake of garbage and unnecessary local expense wherever they go...that's contributing to the problem. I'd rather see the already understaffed law enforcement agencies chasing bad guys instead of wasting precious resources on a disorganized group of protesters, who really don't seem to be focused on what they're protesting. 

As divided as we are as a nation, and as many different opinions as you might find about the issues facing our country and the causal factors, one fact remains...we have an ownership issue. Congress wants to blame the President, the President wants to blame Congress, the people want to blame the entire government.
Ironically, if you want to assign blame, which really does nothing to advance us toward a solution, blame yourself. Let me say it again, blame yourself. That's right, at least for now, we still have a government designed to be "of the people, by the people, and for the people." WE ARE THE ONES TO BLAME, because we have the power to fix it, and we haven't.
We are the ones who put these people in office, and we are the ones who have abandoned all sense of ownership and responsibility, and instead placed our fate in the hands of a small group of self serving people. To make matters worse, when it started to go south for us, decades ago, instead of stepping up and holding those people accountable, we just buried our heads in the sand took the "victim" stance. Well folks, we're only victims of our own actions.
How does a nation of over 300 million people transfer control to a tiny group of only 545 people, and simply stand back and watch while they destroy our country? Well, we're not watching anymore, and neither should you.