Finding a Voice

I'm a citizen of the United States of America.  I've voted in every election afforded to me, less one, since I turned eighteen. But I've been lackadaisical towards those that I was electing, giving my faith to the guy who had the least amount of dirt on his hands.

But now, as I watch the country that my forefathers worked so hard to build, I see people in the legislature grand standing and preening over who will win the battle of who has the most political clout and not focusing on doing what is right for the people that they represent. I appear to be minor player in this mess, a mess that was created by those that call themselves my representative, ultimately, I know that the government that is in office today is because of voters like me.  Voters who didn't do our homework about who we were electing. Voters who didn't think that one vote would make a difference.  Voters who won't discuss politics at the office, church or at home because it isn't proper, politics makes people uncomfortable or starts arguments.

Instead of taking the hard road, I sat back while my neighbors lost their houses, jobs, savings, hope. I watched on the sidelines as the Greatest Generation lost their retirement and the dream of taking their golden years easy.  The Baby Boomers have come to the realization that they won't ever retire because they didn't save, relying on the belief that the government would provide for them as a safety net.  Generation X is trying to keep the roof over their heads, a paycheck in their pocket and wanting jobs that would help them achieve the American Dream only to watch those jobs be sent overseas.  Generation Y, they get almost nothing: no job prospects, college that is too expensive, living at home with their parents because independence is not an option.  And Generation I, they have inherited uncertainty.

Apathetic. That is what the American people have been over the last two decades when it came to the running of our country. This allowed for the lobbyists and corporations to find ways to court Capital Hill, wining and dining the legislature so that at the end of their romantic evening, they could talk Capital Hill into inviting them up for a night cap. Now corporations are 'people' with large checkbooks who've broken up the marriage of citizen and government.

The Republicans, the Democrats, the Libertarians, the Tea Party, who do we trust?  Who do we count on to be our voice?  And how do we take way the shovel that most of Congress is using to shovel shit upon our heads and want to us ask, "May I have more, Sir?"

The Ordinary Citizen has been silent for too long.