Political Parties

[Martin Hash]

I jumped head first into politics and even ran for political office. It’s taken the better part of a decade but I finally got a peek behind the curtain: political Parties are PRIVATE organizations that are only interested in the self-centered desires of their rulers, just like any other private organization, regardless of their portrayal of themselves wrapped in an American flag. Their goals are selfish, the methods they practice are dishonest, and the candidates they run are compromised. I know lots of people have always suspected this but I’ve been idealistic, and thought the problem was that just not enough “good” people were getting involved, so I got involved. Political Parties do NOT want “good” people – they want THEIR people.

And it gets scarier. Candidates KEEP campaign donations. I always wondered how part-time State legislators earning $35K/yr ended up retiring with millions? (And that doesn't include the insane public employee retiree benefits.) Every dollar some poor slob who barely makes the mortgage is wheedled into giving to a candidate is a transfer of wealth from the poor to the (soon-to-be) rich. As for business campaign contributions - that's out-and-out bribery! Business is in business to make money, period (as it should be). A business pays a political candidate to do what they want, also period.

And to top it all off: slander, libel & privacy laws don't apply to political candidates. That means the opposing side can say WHATEVER THEY WANT to discredit a rival. "Thief!" "Liar!" "Child molester!" And these accusations can come from secret sources paid for by secret money. It's open season on folks who would otherwise be your doctor, lawyer or accountant, and now want to represent you in congress. How can any kind of professional in your community survive those kinds of unsubstantiated stains on their reputations?

The whole thing is so goddamn scummy! Something to keep in mind the next time I run...