I Voted... Now What?

I voted in the 11/2/2010 election and was happy about some of the results, and disappointed about others.  I'd bet that's how most of us feel.  In some ways, that indicates a fair election.  You win some, you lose, right?  The thing that bothers me, is that a hand full of people spent roughly four billion dollars campaigning, and for the most part, their money talked.  So how do we level the playing field so that the results are determined not by who outspends whom but by our genuine differences of opinion?   We level the playing field, dollar for dollar. So maybe you're thinking, "But T'Keyah, I don't have millions (or hundreds) of dollars  to donate to my green issue / third party / working poor / etc. candidate or ballot initiative!  What can I do?" Well, you can pool your power with millions of others who support the issues you do. Below is my five point program for doing it.  Each of these benefit you and decrease the campaign bankrolling and lobbying power of those whose interests almost never serve the destitute, working poor, marginalized, disenfranchised or environment:

1) Take Care of Yourself! - A - Avoid fast food restaurants whenever possible.  (In addition to the fried, non-nutritive foods, you will also be avoiding genetically engineered 'food' products as well.)  B - Exercise more.  (This will reduce your stress levels and your waist line.) C - Commune with loved ones.  D - Reduce your meat, salt and sugar intake.  They're killing you.  The healthier you are, the less dependent you will be now and later on prescription drugs, hospital stays, and the like.

2) Take Care of Your Money! -   A - Except for actual emergencies (those involving blood loss or eviction), don't buy anything (else) that you can't pay off when the bill comes.  This will help you pay down your debt and save on interest. B - Get rid of credit cards that charge an annual fee unless the benefits outweigh the costs for you. C - Transfer your balance(s) to cards with lower interest rates if you can - just watch out for trick rates that start low then leap!

 

3) Support Local Businesses! - Big chains are wiping out local businesses at alarming rates.  I know it may seem sometimes like you can't afford not to go to the mile long store that sells everything... but look around and ask yourself what will happen when they are actually your only choice.

4) Pay Attention to Your Representatives! - Elected officials seem to count on the fact that so many people only pay attention to issues at election time.  Keep a scoreboard of the issues that are important to you and how your representatives support them (or not).  Write and call to let them know that you are keeping score.

5) Share Information! - Talk to you friends and family about what's going on and how you can pool your social, intellectual and monetary resources to improve your neighborhood, community, country and world!  And let them know about this and my other blogs as well.  :)

The Crystal News - http://thecrystalnews.blogspot.com/

T'Keyah Fights City Hall - http://tkeyahfightscityhall.blogspot.com/

Keymah Presents - http://keymahpresents.blogspot.com/
www.tkeyah.com - Where Crystal visions come to life!