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When the Swamp Starts Stinking

Ending the Monopoly Game

By Michael ThielmannPublished 7 years ago 4 min read
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I should probably keep my day job.

I have to take a few deep breaths before I delve into the Swamp. This is such a complex and multifaceted issue that it will take many different angles and approaches for us to really see the beast for what it is.

Starting with the simple idea of governments in general, we come to realize how little faith most of us have in our own governments in the modern day. Corruption has become the norm, and most of us recognize that our best interests are simply not being considered or represented most of the time, if ever, by our local and federal governments.

We can write letters to our local representatives, we can protest against things we don't like, we can advocate for what we want, and sometimes it seems like positive change can result from these actions.

However, more and more we are becoming disillusioned and questioning the entire Swamp itself, the underlying structures that dictate the direction of our day to day lives in our societies.

My drawing, modest as it is, represents the migration of 'our' hard-earned money towards the central coffers of the government. People say that death and taxes are two certainties in life, and many are becoming increasingly fed up by the latter to the extent of looking forward to the advent of the former.

I've spoken to clients who have experienced suicidal ideation related to their financial situations (or lack thereof). They see what little money they do have disappear into the nebulous reserves of government and big business. A saving grace of paying these taxes would come about if we implemented a democratic process regarding how tax money is redistributed back to the people.

The proposition I have been advocating would look something like this...

Throughout the year, we can log onto government sites where we can propose community projects that are important to us. We can dialogue with members of our local governments and bring up real-world issues that we care about and how we want to see our tax dollars fund solutions to problems.

At the end of the tax year, we can look at all the proposed projects and vote on what feels most relevant to us for the coming year. This would in turn prioritize how the government chooses to spend revenue generated from our taxes. How effective the government would be at listening to its citizens would then determine the likelihood of them being reelected for another term.

The broader issue we need to tackle can be summed up in the idea of how our governments represent us. "No taxation without representation."

Democracy needs to extend much further than a "lesser of two evils" style vote every four years. We don't get a say about paying taxes, so at the very least we deserve to have a say over how our financial contributions are used in our society.

Of course, this idea is simply a utopian dream considering the swamp of systemic corruption that is government and big business today. A more feasible thing to do is simply ask ourselves, "How can I contribute to the betterment of myself and my community?"

If a program I believe in is not receiving funding, perhaps I can volunteer a few hours a week. If I want to see a certain program started in my city or town, maybe I can create a meetup group to find like-minded people who are also interested.

Increasingly, we are being challenged to act on behalf of ourselves instead of looking to some '"authority" to represent who we are and what we wish to see happen. The government can often be likened to an abusive and negligent parent who makes promises to take care of us, but ends up breaking those promises and acting in selfish and destructive ways.

This can leave people feeling like orphaned children wondering how to take care of ourselves and our siblings, in the absence of a strong and stable parental figure.

Religion is increasingly being seen in a similar light as well, where people become disillusioned with fear-based and outdated concepts of God. The onus, therefore, falls on us to awaken our own potential and start creating the world we wish to see. We can't drain the Swamp; we can only sow seeds of love in our own garden.

activismagriculturecorruptionfinancepoliticsvoting
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About the Creator

Michael Thielmann

I am an addiction and mental health counsellor living in Salmon Arm British Columbia. I love engaging with people about overcoming any challenges in their life and being vulnerable and open about my own process as well. <3

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