Amen! Unfortunately, it'll never happen. Those who are rich tend to think they are smarter than those who aren't. Is it because they can afford schooling? Or is it just arrogance? What's more, rich folks want to become richer (despite what they may claim). And where better to multiply ones riches than in politics. Sure, there's the stock market and such, but politicians write the laws. And if the rich can make laws that protect their riches, reduce or eliminate their taxes/fees or come up with schemes to legally "hide" their wealth, you can bet they'll to jump at the opportunity.
Politicians know that the best way to keep the muggles from noticing that they don't care one iota about them (only about money... "precious, lovely money")! LIE TO THEM! Why, the fools will believe anything! Unfortunately, not all the peasants are as dumb as the rich politicians would like them to be, so they toss out an occasional crumb or 2. We’re going to reduce your taxes! (fine print - reduced by .00001%, but only for a select few and then only for 2 years <- humor). Free health care! (fine print - that you pay for via increased taxes and/or via an "open market" that changes their prices (up only) every few weeks and can drop you anytime if THEY feel like it <- more humor). Anyone ever notice that the first thing a politician does when elected is to start campaigning for their next term - not “help” the commoner as they promised? Ever notice that these wealthy politicians spend $trillions of “their” money to campaign… and yet still remain rich? They get the blind muggles to pay the cost for them. They call them, “donations” (a plebeian can even contribute $3 when they file their taxes each year). You say they use corporate donations??? That’s just a fancy way of saying ‘higher priced goods’. Oh, and the rich love to cater to the rich. $500k/plate luncheons?? For a majority of people, that’s more money than they’ll see in their entire lifetime!
A constitutional amendment barring the wealthy from public office sounds great. Unfortunately, the rich control the constitution. Unless you and a clause stating that they get a 99.3% reduction in their taxes (indefinitely) AND guarantee that they’ll be re-elected for the next 70 years AND have an escape clause so they can get around the amendment … it’ll only be wishful thinking.
The founding fathers had no idea of what this country would evolve into. They had no idea that their 13 little states would one day grow into a nation of 50 states – one of which was purchased from Russia. They had no idea that their small nation would one day grow into a world superpower. The had no idea that their little nation would go on to fight (and prevail) in 2 world wars. They had no idea that their little nation would one day spread all the way across the Pacific Ocean – clear to the shores of Japan.
Nor did they have an inkling of how far technology would progress. If you told even one of the founding fathers that their little nation would one day have machines that would carry people through the air or that that it’d be the first nation to put a man on the moon, they’d have thought you were possessed. They couldn’t even fathom that one day every citizen in their country would be able to “freely” purchase assault rifles or tazers (heck, it was hard enough for them to even obtain a musket).
No, they were mostly concerned with keeping the fledgling nation alive for more than just a few years. They quickly ran into problems and had to amend their newly created constitution to compensate (the “Bill of Rights”). Never in their wildest dreams did they ever think that every jot and title of their “great document” would need interpretation. The “right to bear arms” meant having assault rifles?? Freedom of speech meant TV news broadcasts could spout lies??? No, our founding fathers would turn over in their graves if they knew what the government of this country had evolved into.
Yes, I’ve seen saw Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I took a ‘criticism of films’ class when I was in 8th grade where we “dissected” that very movie (and it’s still relevant today).
Shuhak 