The Government Conscious American: a species close to extinction

You were born in America. From kindergarten through the twelfth grade, you attended state funded schools. At the age of sixteen, you received your official driver's license from whatever state you were born in and drove home on roads so graciously paid for by the U.S. government. You got a job and started saving for college. You also start paying an income tax. "Well gee" you think to yourself, "maybe I'd have my tuition money faster if I didn't have to pay this damn income tax." But then you realize that if you didn't pay, they wouldn't be able to pave the road you drive on to work, or fund the schools that you've been attending all your life.

You finally reach your eighteenth birthday. It's a big day for you, after all, now you can vote. You are now part of the process that elects the leader of the world's greatest nation, despite the fact that you're not even trusted to drink alcohol yet. Decisions, decisions. Republican or democrat? Elephant or Donkey? You've certainly got your work cut out for you. Perhaps Lincoln should decide. The penny lands heads up. Republicans it is. You cast your ballot and until the next election you don't bother yourself with the tedium of politics and the monotony of government.

Then those good old campaign commercials roll around again and suddenly politics is exciting (well, comparatively speaking). There's debates and mudslinging and all kinds of vague, but catchy, slogans about freedom and democracy. It's a grand time for everyone. And of course you needn't worry about the actual policies or issues or the positions of the candidates. After all, there's your man Obama (the penny landed tails this year) with his shiny white teeth and American flag on his lapel, charismatically assuring you that he's got it all figured out. You sure hope so. Fingers crossed, you cast your ballot.

For many, this is the extent of involvement in the affairs of the government. And while most citizens don't decide their party preference through a coin toss, this doesn't change the unfortunate fact that choices are somewhat limited (note that the penny landing perfectly balanced on its side results in a vote for a third party candidate). And even those who maintain the illusion of being politically informed by watching CNN(Clinton News Network) or Bill O'Reilly really don't know that much about how their government works and what the hell is being done with their tax money.

"If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed."
— Mark Twain

To be fair, most people simply don't have the time or desire to delve into political matters because they have lives, jobs and families. And when they aren't working, taking care of their kids or...well...living then they are seeking out entertainment venues to escape their lives, jobs, and families. Besides, politics really is quite boring.

But even so, shouldn't we be more aware of the doings of an institution which permeates nearly every area of our lives. Our government is so disgustingly bloated and overbearing its a wonder we even have any room to breath. Shouldn't we have some knowledge and oversight on a government which is supposedly operated under, and for the benefit of, the people. Though even considering our ignorance of some matters that we should, and could, obtain knowledge on, there are parts of our government which are virtually impossible to penetrate. The Federal Reserve for example. This is a body, closed off from the public (not to mention congress), of unelected officials who have regulated our economy for decades. And let's not even get started on the CIA.

For too long, our senators, congressmen, judges, and presidents have expanded their power at the expense of the people. But can we blame them? After all, power breeds the hunger for more power. Greed is a natural human reaction to exposure to such control as is wielded by our men and women in office. Can we really expect them to put a leash on themselves after handing over the keys to the kingdom? We, the people, put these politicians in positions of power. We, the people, pay their salaries with our hard earned income. And we, the people, accept whatever laws and regulations they impose on us largely without question.

President Barack Obama has touted time and again that this is an era of change. I think he may be right in this sentiment, or at least I hope so. This is certainly an era of turmoil but the question is, will this turmoil finally open people's eyes? Will they finally begin to question the powers that be and fight the injustices which have been imposed upon them by those powers? At the moment there are too few with this spirit at heart to instate truly meaningful change, i.e. not the type our dear president used in his campaign slogans. But if those few work to instill that spirit in others, there may be hope yet.