Miner Queries: Do you trust government? Well, why not?
That’s a loaded question. Most people I know would automatically respond “no.”
But, I’d propose it’s the wrong question. I think we need to ask why we don’t trust government, and secondly, whom do we trust?
Because in my view, government is not necessarily the problem, especially when it: delivers my mail, took care of my parents in retirement, helped me pay for my education, provides for my defense, insures my bank deposits, educates my daughter, protects me in emergencies, provides roads for me to travel, monitors the safety of my food and medicine . . . Do I need to go on?
And let me ask another question: Do you trust corporations? Do you trust a private organization motivated by profits to be responsible for your kids’ education or your health and security? If you do, how will you hold that corporation accountable?
Robert Reich noted in an April 27 blog post that “millions of Americans feel like they have no power over their lives.” In the workplace, citizens are treated like just another resource; they are exploited and pitched.
In
the marketplace, consumers are given fewer choices as smaller companies get bought out by the few large multinational corporations ever consolidating their power. Reich notes this phenomenon in airlines, Internet providers and health insurers. But it also includes media companies; we now have about six major companies that own most of our media outlets.
And finally, Reich observes that even our political choices have contracted. With redistricting, “85 percent of congressional districts are considered ‘safe’ for their incumbents in the upcoming 2016 election; only 3 percent are toss-ups.” Our two-party system also limits our choices, as well as our campaign financing system.
Yet things were not always so. Reich explains that during the 50s, unions provided a counterweight to the power of the corporate sector. Additionally, in the 60s a strong consumer movement acted to protect citizens. And even the political parties had strong local and state grassroots networks to set policy agendas that reflected the will of citizens.
So what’s changed?
As I wrote in late March, corporate America organized and struck back. Using Lewis Powell’s marketing plan, corporate interests have engaged in a systematic campaign to misinform and disempower citizens.
We’re working more hours for less – so many more we’re too tired to engage with our civic duties. We no longer participate in democracy, voting (if we even bother) according to the messages and ads produced by corporate America for their favorite political candidates. We accept infotainment as news and trust corporate outlets to provide “fair and balanced” information.
And this may be where the idea we can’t trust government comes from – we’ve been fed the idea. Government has become our scapegoat.
Meanwhile, corporate attorneys write laws for guileless state and federal legislators too enthralled by their corporate funders’ attention and their own new status to quite understand they’ve been bought. And I’m being generous, because the other possibility is much less flattering.
The solution to this problem is for us to get back in the game. We need to work through our fatigue and organize. Join or form a union and participate actively. Instead of walking away when you disagree, engage in a discussion and argue your viewpoint. Get active in a political party. Run for office. At the very least, start reading broadly for your news and information. Then talk to friends and neighbors to share your viewpoint. Don’t just accept whatever the message of the day is.
Yes, it’s work. It takes effort, but how can we expect our government to work if we won’t? I think that’s the real question.
Cherie Miner is a local parent, community volunteer, freelance writer and artist. In a former life, she was a corporate writer and public relations professional. Contact her at news@redoakexpress.com or on Facebook.