Taking Back Our Power

Why we need to stop fearing the "S-word," reject corporate politicians, and what gives me hope right here in Wisconsin.

As I have been mentioning, the rich do not have our best interests in mind. I believe our modern government has been compromised due to the enactment of Citizens United as well as massive lobbying. It angers me how much dark money is being funneled into our politics from foreign entities. While I have voted mostly Democrat my entire life, I’m seeing just how compromised they are as well. Money has corrupted most of these individuals who were sent to represent us, not corporations. So I’m calling ‘em all out now.

I’m sick and tired of corporate politicians. If any politician is being propped up by corporate donors, I want no part of that. We all know that those who give massive amounts of money to potential lawmakers are ALWAYS looking for something in return. Of course, they do not think about the average person in this country; they want to continue to use their influence and money to rewrite the rules to benefit themselves. I cannot in good faith trust any politician that takes massive amounts of money from billionaires or other PACs. These politicians will say whatever they think you want to hear just so they can get elected or stay in power. We’ve seen it time and again.

So, what can we do about all of this!? We need to band together and realize that socialism isn’t the boogeyman that the rich want you to believe. They benefit from socialism every single day, while we struggle to survive under the harsh conditions of capitalism. Socialist policies are why we have public libraries, fire departments, and police departments, although the last one is quickly becoming compromised under our current system. The rich get massive tax breaks and subsidies all the while cutting essential and basic programs which help the most vulnerable. I will say disability and illness does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone at any time in life, so don’t think you’re forever exempt from needing those programs.

We’ve swung so far to the right that anything that is common sense seems “socialist” to ones that fear us finding out that it would benefit the average person. Even the establishment democrats are basically republicans at this point. We deserve a government that is: of the people, by the people, for the people and NOT of the people, by the rich, for the corporations. I’m just so tired of trying to fight for the basics that others are afforded via their taxes in other countries. I will say, I think we pay far too much in taxes when we’re currently not seeing much back from it. A majority is going to the endless war machine, which I do not support, as well as propping up billionaires through massive tax breaks and other subsidies. And Republicans willingly support both. It’s so wrong. We need to take back our power and use those taxes to support us: universal healthcare, universal childcare, and tuition-free college, to name a few.

I’m not afraid of socialism as we see its benefits in small amounts in our lives already. We need to continue to push for our taxes to work for the majority of the population so we can thrive. This is why I am proud to vote for Francesca Hong for Wisconsin Governor both in the primary and the general mid-term election. She is running a grassroots organization and won’t be beholden to corporate donors. She has the spunk and tenacity to take on these massive data centers as well as wanting the best for all of us, regardless of what others think or say about her. I’ve always leaned more into progressive values, and she embodies that immensely. Wisconsin has the opportunity to move away from corporate hacks and go back to our progressive roots in which the state flourished many decades ago. Let’s live our motto again, Wisconsin, and move “FORWARD”!

And if you are in a position to vote for someone who is a progressive or running on policies that will help the average individual and not just corporate donors, please VOTE like your life depends on it, because at this point, it does.