Feeling Powerless in Politics?

Here's how to level the playing field with 7 easy steps

        These days we find ourselves surrounded with like-minded people.  People who care; about the environment, about racial discrimination, about gender inequality and sexual expression, or about our right to privacy.  Yet the feeling is one of division; we are divided geographically for one.  We are divided by the subjects we care most about, and further segregated by the media who polarizes petty political issues, constantly creating two factions.  If we have learned anything from the occupy movement it is that we can't seem to agree on which issue is the most important.  There is no question that white privilege, male privilege, straight privilege and environmental abuse are real things affecting us in the moment. This is a given but these things are allowed to continue because of an underlying class-based system. The class inequality is present in every political agenda, in every inequality and most especially in our increased feeling of being powerless to affect real change. So many people have been crying out against police brutality and racially discriminatory policing techniques, and yet nothing has been done.  Meanwhile, after the Dallas shooting, there is already a bill out to increase penalties for targeting police officers.  This is not to say we shouldn’t be looking out for the boys in blue, but why the hell isn’t there already a bill being written to protect the people whose skin is black?  The answer lies only partly in the fact that our government is run by a bunch of white men.  But more importantly, our government isn’t run by us!  We are allowed a vote on the people who represent us, but what comes of that?  We don't get a say in which laws are passed, where our taxes go, how government agencies operate, where police officers are placed, or even how they police.  We are screaming in the streets and yet nothing is being done.

        We are not trying to downplay the fact that black people in all states are being treated unjustly.  One aspect of racial discrimination exists when black men are treated like lower class citizens.  Our lower class citizens, the poor, are constantly targeted for small offenses. They are harassed and punished to the fullest extent of the law.  In short, our poor are suspects; they are treated like criminals.  The middle and upper classes enjoy respect. They are rarely targeted. Their punishment is nothing more than a slap on the wrist for their crimes, the assumption being that they are good people who have simply made a mistake in their path to becoming 'model citizens'.  White men, in the eyes of the law, belong to the ranks of middle class or upper class citizens.  Black men on the other hand are often viewed as lower class and as such are treated as gangsters and thugs.

        Discrimination based on race and gender and other factors is real, but it is rooted in class inequality.  Taking cough suppressants can cure the symptom but not the cause; your body remains sick.  Methadone is a replacement for heroin but not for addiction.  Our country is sick with financial inequality.  Our country is addicted to money and has organized itself accordingly.

        Let us imagine for a moment that in a years time we were able to 100% completely abolish all racial discrimination.  What are we left with?  Corporations controlling politicians who write laws for their own interest.  An apathetic higher class and an oppressed lower class.  Our votes will still only elect officials.  Our phones and computers would still be endlessly tapped. The rich will still be getting richer and the poor certainly poorer.

       Now imagine We The People were to fully unite under the banner of true social equality; a system where our votes direct real change, where our laws reflect our needs rather than suppress them.  A system in which we could choose where our taxes go and what they fund.  One in which court decisions weren’t decided by the best lawyer money could buy but by the most honest and understanding humans our country could find.  From this united struggle would emerge a new generation, one in which men and women, black and white and native and Hispanic, queers and businessmen had to fight side by side.  In struggle there is camaraderie.  In camaraderie, community and through community comes true understanding.  Discrimination cannot exist where there is understanding.

       But we must find ourselves capable of uniting behind a common cause.

       We believe the root of our unrest is social inequality and that social inequality derives most of its power from the present financial system and the classes it creates.

         We must end corporate person hood.

         We must have direct control over where our taxes go.

         We must have a vote for laws that affect us.

         We must retain control over government agencies.

         We must have access to a fair justice system.

         Our government must be held accountable, by the people, on all fronts.

      These goals will not happen overnight or at all if the balance of power is not tipped in favor of We The People. Our battles for equality will be long and arduous unless we take steps to cut to the core of this problem.

      We are the ones who support this country through our taxes, our tickets, our consumption and our labor.  Yet we are the ones who pay the highest penalties for our crimes, who are targeted and who are shot in the streets.

      Our first step must be to level the playing field. We can achieve tangible results if enough of us take 7 simple steps.

1.  Contribute as little as possible to the economic system.

      While breaking windows and throwing stones is fun, we do not have enough solidarity to directly contest those in power.  We cannot yet fight fire with fire.  But we can do the unexpected- stop playing their game.  For most of us, dropping out is nearly impossible, but if we lessen our financial contributions we take the first step towards weakening the system.  Participating in national days of non-spending is a fantastic way to send a message. The system depends entirely on our consumerism in order to run. Without our money, it ceases to exist. One very powerful way to pull out from the system is to buy used and buy at yard sales.  This simple step is incredibly powerful.  It benefits individuals as well as the environment.  In fact, it is one of the most 'green' things you can possibly do.  Buy used, buy off craigslist, and be honest when selling your used items.  If everyone endeavored to only buy used for a single year the changes would be astronomical.  Opt out of buying new technologies. Fix your things instead of buying new.  Participate in activities which are free- take a walk, go camping, have a picnic in the park.  Choose to occupy spaces paid for by tax dollars.  Grow your own food, participate in or start community gardens if at all possible.

2. Support small, independent and especially local business.

       Avoid chain stores and corporations at all costs.  Buy handcrafted goods.  Shop at farmers markets.  Buy off etsy (but beware businesses masquerading as people).  If you have money to spend please choose to spend a little more to directly benefit individuals.  If you don’t, once again, buy used.

3.  Support trade economy.

       The government cannot tax a trade.  Trade labor for labor.  Get to know your neighbors and community.  Whenever possible use your time and not your money to help those in need.  Money is the easy way out and leads ultimately to our continued oppression.  If people in your community are struggling with finances, find ways you can help them by offering your talents and services.  Time is more powerful than money and more beneficial in the long term.

4.  Vote independent or green in the upcoming election.

       Vote to send a message.  We will not stand for the same stagnant politics.  Democrats and Republicans are children arguing with each other; they are too close to one another and they are all running secret agendas beneath their heated debates.  Vote to change the system by not voting democrat or republican.  Our message is simple; we don’t like the system as it is.

5.  Participate in local politics and build community.

       Your vote is strongest locally, where there are the least amount of people involved.  Community boards, town, city, and county politics are all places where your vote truly counts.  Many local laws are voted on directly rather than by 200 people who supposedly represent 300 million.  Our voices are loudest the more we locally we use them.

6.  Participate in conversations about race, gender, income and all inequalities

        Talk with people who care and avoid taking things personally.  When we take things personally the conversations stop being about important topics and become centered on us.  Listen with an open mind, especially when you disagree.  Do not be moved to anger; anger leads to the dark side.  Point out language bias but don’t police words.  Despite our disagreements, our power comes from each other.  We are our greatest allies and our only hope of accomplishing our goals.  We need people who care in order to achieve our vision.

7.Unify!  Remain United!

        Support all movements for equality and environmental justice, even if you think your movement is more important.  March together for whatever.  March peacefully; now is the time to gather numbers and violence scares some of our allies away. Our power is in numbers and our allegiance is determined by our actions. If you care about equality of any kind you care about all equality.  If you care about justice for anyone you care about justice for everyone.  March together, march often.

Do not be fooled, inequality in our system will continue to persist; it will be debated, pondered, and filibustered into an endless stalemate.  Until all people are equal we will forever be slaves to the system


It's likely that most everyone who has made it this far has already acted on some of these steps.  Give yourselves a pat on the back, but don't stop there! Unless we all act now things will continue to move at the same slow, plodding pace.  We must all conciously try to live our lives less comfortably and more thoughtfully.  Act now while the choice is still your own.