A Mathematical Anomaly: 1%>99%

Capitalism and democracy are an integral part of the American dream.  They both play a considerable role in the lives of every US citizen, whether the individual has direct knowledge and understanding of the two principles, or whether the citizen goes about their daily activities with little to no regard of the immense impact these forces have on what they are able to do or say.  What happens when these two fundamental American principles begin to deteriorate due to the corruption and desecration of one or another of them?  The answer to this question seems to be unfolding directly before the eyes of the American people.

Because of the Constitution as well as somewhat of a financial safety net, US citizens have certain inalienable rights that guarantee them the freedom and security to pursue their dreams of living comfortably and raising a decent family in a great location of their choosing.  US citizens vote for the candidates of whom they believe closely share their core values and fundamental principles and for whom they feel interprets the constitution in a manner that coincides with their lifestyles.  The democratic process is seemingly unmatched throughout the world.  Unfortunately, however, it is not without its flaws.  What the average American citizen doesn't seem to realize  is that, contrary to popular belief and definitely contrary to what the founding fathers of this nation had in mind, our democratic procedures are less about the individual citizen’s vote and more about the financial capabilities of the candidates involved in the process, both democrats and republicans.

Super Political Action Committees (Super PACs) allow unlimited fundraising by anonymous donors in order to support a candidate’s political campaign.  Fortunately the Super PAC is not allowed to coordinate directly with the candidate whom they are supporting; however, the loopholes that are wrapped around the prohibition laws make the process of coordination extremely easy.  The key phrase in this situation is “directly coordinate.” The idea that supporters of a particular candidate may have an unlimited amount of money from anonymous donors in order to campaign for said candidate is a cause for concern in what is supposed to be a free and fair election.

       

With Supreme Court rulings such as Citizen’s United, which considers corporations to be people and thus allows the corporations to donate money to political campaigns in the same manner as private citizens, the US political system has become a farce to many objective observers. Capitalism has almost totally taken the average American’s vote and turned it into nothing more than a show.  The individual’s vote still has the power to make or break a candidate’s bid for office, however, the influence of money in any political campaign has begun to trump the power of one man one vote.

            

The wealthiest 1% of the country owns approximately 49% of the land, controls 43% of the nation’s finances and pays the lowest income tax in the country (14%-20% on an annual income of $200,000+).  The wealth inequality in America has the widest gap between the rich and poor that this country has seen in over seventy years and it is only increasing as the middle class rapidly fades into a distant memory.  Now, what are supposed to be democratic elections to vote on the politicians whom the American people feel best represents their needs are being massively influenced and bought out by the extreme amount of money flooding the political arena.  Forget about the lobbyists in Washington who have done an excellent job of buying out elected politicians to promote corporate agendas such as deregulation of environmentally devastating industries, these “free and fair” elections are becoming fiery rings in a circus full of sideshow clowns and horribly abused animals.  The 1% minority of a democratic society is slowly becoming greater than the 99% majority, all because of fundamental capitalistic principles.

            

America was once a great nation, a beacon of light in the darkness of  a cold world, beckoning men and women of all nationalities to come to her with promises of happiness, hope, and opportunity.  Once they reached her shores they knew that with hard work and discipline they would be able to make a good life for their families and live happily in the American dream.  What happened to the land of opportunity?  Why are we no longer that beacon of light spreading hope throughout all the nations of the world?  How can we revive that dream and once again become the true symbol of strength, freedom, and opportunity?  We must breathe new life into the American dream before it is cast away and snuffed out like the so many other great nations of this world’s history.