Accountability, or Lack Thereof

The many dimensions of U.S. society have reinforced a lack of accountability on all levels. The federal government has degenerated to an elementary school playground of finger-pointing, name-calling, and laziness leading to a lack of sufficient progress.

The divided government situation of the present administration has been a significant contributor to this, but such a situation has always been possible within our governmental framework. This was probably an intention of the country's forefathers, to the end that societal change would be discussed and debated across party lines and effected slowly and gradually. Yet members of Congress can't even be bothered to read legislation they pass.

And, of course, let's not forget Wall Street. Bankers invested in risky mortgages and would have lost everything had we, the taxpayers, not bailed them out. All it's served to do is increase the national debt at the expense of those taxpayers while the bankers collect corporate bonuses. Thankfully, enough wealth is held by the non-upper classes that they can still prevent change that is not in their favor.

And speaking of the 99%, they must be accountable as well. They elected the representatives who approved the bailout and each of the previous administrations that have led the country to this point. They've been asleep at the political wheel for years, enabling those who would make unnecessary war at the expense of the society they governed and serve the interests of corporations over those of the public.

A large part of the problem is that politicians can make all manner of promises during their campaigns, but once they're elected, they have little incentive to keep those promises. President Obama himself has broken a number of campaign promises that might have contributed to a less bleak status quo. Canada might have a good idea in this respect: they can issue a vote of no confidence to depose their executive power. Imagine if such a power were available to the states to recall any of their representatives. Congress would no longer be a nursing home for pampering aged politicians.

As mentioned in previous posts, corporations need to have less influence on government. Even more provocative than this sentiment, however, is that the public needs to have a more meaningful influence on its government. Voting is a privilege not to be taken lightly, one that should be exercised only by citizens willing to responsibly seek out education on candidates before casting their vote. Any solution to present problems must begin with the people.