I read an editorial in the morning paper that should give Americans food for thought, but I doubt if even they will take a bite.
The article begins by commending Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) that restricts government's growth. The bill was initiated and passed as a constitutional amendment a decade ago by the citizens of Colorado. This law requires the state to refund tax payments in excess of the prior year's collections after adjustment to inflation and population growth. It means the state's politicians can no longer tax as much as they want, nor squander as much as they can get away with.
The editorial then goes on to laud California Governor, Arnold Schwartzenegger who wants Californians to pass his version of TABOR called "Live Within Our Means Act" that would limit state budget growth to the average budget growth of the past three years.
The difference between the Colorado and California plans, however, is that in Colorado the citizens initiated the program and in California, the state has done the initiating. Colorado's is a bottom-up law while California's is the usual top-down, sneaky law.
I'm angry, because--as usual--the political power machine in Colorado behind the governor is currently proposing "Referendum C" that will allow the state to keep excess tax money and, in essence, begin the chipping away of TABOR.
In November, more than a dozen states will have a TABOR bill, or a candidate proposing one, on the ballot, and many states already possess what they call "Taxpayers Bill of Rights". I'm angry because most, however, are all meaningless bits of drivel, merely declaring what citizens can or cannot legally do within the political system. Few of these bills give citizens the power to initiate or curb spending bills and fewer restrict the power of politicians to tax and spend. They bills are merely more deception from greedy politicians wishing to fool unthinking, ignorant constituents.
What I wish to point out is that Colorado's TABOR is an example of how direct democracy (true democracy) works as opposed to how representative democracy (pseudo-democracy) does. In DD the citizens initiate the laws and regulations under which they live, whereas in the pseudo-democracy under which Americans live, the opportunistic politicians and their wealthy masters do.
Common citizens the world over are dipping their toes into the waters of DD and bottom-up law-making, timidly beginning their revolution against the corruption, militarization, and wars initiated by top-down governments. If you haven't already done so, I recommend visiting the website www.movementfordirectdemocracy.com just to see what's really going on in the world outside of the fantasyland created by the cowardly American mass media.
Just remember, our world could be a better place to live, if you participated in our political system. And if the system, or the men who control the system, won't let you participate, then take it away from them and change it to a system that will. You possess the Greater Force. You have only to wield it with your vote.
Have a thoughtful day!