The Mexican government has been controlled by one party, the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, for the past 67 years. We all know the poor Mexicans have a rotten government. Only the people with influence have a voice. Government officials, bureaucrats, the military and police are all for sale to the highest bidder. Laws are selectively enforced. Elections are regularly rigged by those in power. The common people are exploited and suppressed. Most Americans would agree that the Mexican government should be overthrown. We all know Mexicans who are no less intelligent and no less capable than Americans. The plight of the Mexican people is the result of rotten corrupt politicians.
On the other hand, our government is controlled by two parties that take turns in power and have been doing so since before the First World War. The two parties, during those years, have been corrupted by individuals and organizations having the financial capacity to support politicians.During the congressional debate over NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and since then, the major media outlets and our politicians in Washington have been telling us that the Mexican people have a democracy not too different from our own. They were correct. We do have a democracy not too different from that of Mexico.
During this past week, facts have surfaced showing our government being controlled by big corporations and other special interest groups, both domestic and foreign. When we vote on Nov. 5, we should take notice of who owns the politicians of our choices.
Regarding the choice for President of the United States, could anyone sincerely believe that the power brokers who control both major parties are collectively dumb enough to think for one instant that tired old Bob Dole, floundering for a plausible platform and with 35 years of the kind of corrupt experience voters are so weary of, could beat young, articulate, incumbent Bill Clinton in an election? Could it be that Bob Dole is simply performing the function of a decoy before retirement? How many times have we voted for the lesser of two undesirable politicians? Could the whole election process, which we taxpayers pay for, be a hoax to make us think we have a choice? Think about it.
Before voting, we must think. If we don't, we could very well end up in a few years with a "democratic" government, and way of life, more similar to that of Mexico than we can presently imagine. We must find time to become involved. Until we find a way to fix our political problems, failing to vote should not be an option in our thought processes.
Jim Dancer
Tooele