I watch the discussions on healthcare policy and think about Sisyphus. While the ideas are passionate, well researched and thought out I can only help thinking – this is a fool’s errand. Nowhere in the discussion of policy have I seen any discussion of implementation. I see the why, but not the how. I’m not talking about budgeting and funding, or even logistics, or implementation – what I’m talking about is the actual work of passing a vote.

When was the last time you looked at the comprehensive annual financial report, for your city, county, parish, state or nation? Lambert asked me to write more about nonviolent resistance. Before that can even take place there needs to be a recognition of oppression. I submit that while well intentioned, most of the discussions are ill informed. The complexity of government has changed since you first started voting. The first duty of a democratic citizen is to be responsibly informed (read educated) so that they may participate in the creation of a better way of life through democratic means. That means they must be informed about their system of government and the issues at hand so that their INFORMED OPINION can be actualized in debate and ultimately in the VOTE in order to effect a change in the allocation of resources in the society in which they co-exist.

If you don’t know your numbers you don’t know shit. I invite you to read Sanity Check and Deep Capture.

For some reason, perhaps because most of the people discussing the issue believe that they will actually “retire” with benefits, a pension, a 401K, social security or Medicare on Fantasy Island with the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause, Tatoo, and Mr. Rork.

I’m not sure which promise they are holding on to. However, none of these “entitlements” are any more present or secure than the vote – they don’t exist. I do not believe that politicians are concerned or affected by my vote. I think they know and understand this. I think they know, far better than most, that even if they piss off a large number of voters, as long as they do the bidding of their lobbyist supporters, they will be reinstated in office.

It usually works like this; they pass some legislation that flys in the face of what the viewers at home thought should happen. Just before the election, the media push begins crafting a rationalizing narrative for how even though your guy fucked you this time, next time, next time he’ll kiss you and leave towel.

He or She ends up passing some haggled over, mangled version of a bad bill.

You, so twisted by the bullshit, feel vindicated because “at least it wasn’t as bad as it was going to be” because you got one thing you asked for while the corporations got everything they asked for (Just think Bail Out Package – remember when you said “No! don’t pass it”).

Then, when the election comes the vote is close, ohh so close, but, in the end, the lobbyist’s choice wins squeaking by with the slimmest of margins.

Do you see where I’m going with this one? No?

Ok. Until you secure the vote you will forever be stuck in the Matrix. Issue #1 needs to be True Vote systems, because until you throw all those bastards out of office and stop the theft – there is no Medicare, health care, social security – nothing. However, if you have six zeros or more on the end of your account statement I’m not talking to you.