While driving into work this week I was listening to the Quinn and Rose show on XM radio. A caller to the show made the point that one of the main motivators for the American Revolution was that we were being taxed without any representation in the government. I think that everyone here would agree that taxation without representation is a very bad thing. It was the caller’s second statement that representation without taxation was just as bad which made me sit up and take notice.

What that caller was describing in very succinct terms is the situation that we have in this country today with our current Congressmen and Senators not looking out for the taxpayers but rather two distinct special interest /victim groups. The first group would be the money men – Unions, lobbyist, etc. – who use their financial power to direct policy and law to benefit their “constituents”. The second group would be the large group of people in this country that do not pay income tax – and in most cases get an earned tax income credit at the end of the year. They are able to dictate policy based on the fact that they are dependent on the government for their well-being and therefore are a reliable voting block for those willing to keep the money flowing to them.

So that leaves us with a situation where the people that actually create the wealth that drives the economy and makes it possible to pay for all of the government’s largesse really don’t have a voice in the government. We have congressmen openly stating that they are going to vote for legislation (i.e. Health Care Reform) despite the fact that a large and vocal group of constituents don’t want this. Why would they do this? Some would say that they are just being benevolent and that because of their superior intellect to those of us not in the political class that they are giving us what we need, even if we are too stupid to realize that said need.

The reality is that they are on the hook to repay the unions for their $70 million investment in the last election cycle, and to keep all of the loyal dependent class of voters happy. Now from the perspective of the unions, their investment of $70 million for a return of $10 billion in the form of a bailout of their pension and health plans is money well spent. For those in the dependent class it is worth it to vote for these politicians since they don’t have to pay for anything that they are getting from the government since that money comes from someone else.

So I ask the question again, who represents those of us that make up the tax base of this country? The truth of the matter is the who is you. It would be easy to just give up and say that it is futile to speak out since no one is listening. We face a very uphill battle to make our voices heard, but people are starting to make a difference. Keep going to your town hall meetings, keep sending letters and postcards to your elected officials, start your own blog, do whatever it takes to spread the word that there are hardworking people in this country that want to be heard and will not be ignored while select special interest/victim groups are catered to.

Despite what most people will tell you due to their poor understanding of our political system this country is not a democracy, it is a representative republic. Our politicians represent us. There is no way that a government can meet the needs of every citizen. You and I may share 99% of the same beliefs, but it is that 1% that we don’t have in common that creates conflict. There is a quote from Ronald Reagan that goes along the lines of a person that supports me 51% of the time is not my enemy. Our politicians need to realize that it is their obligation to support what the majority of voters in their districts want.

Therefore it is important to always make your voice heard. If you worry about offending someone with your beliefs than you shouldn’t even say hello to anyone because the way you do it may upset them. Always be civil, always be factual, but always be willing to express your beliefs and don’t be afraid of being shouted down or labeled as a racist, fascist, or a right-wing nut. The left has realized that in the absence of any real substance to their arguments, and the need to obfuscate their real intentions of spreading the wealth (which in reality is spreading the poverty) they need to shout down and demonize those of us that can see them for what they are and what they are trying to do to this country.

The Mandarin

The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.

The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.

The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.