Andrew's Upstanding US Citizen Homepage

Corporations, monopolies and power imbalances are impeding democracy, but they are not the cause of the problem. The cause is the lack of vigilance on behalf of the American public in keeping our elected officials in check. The chain of corruption begins where the official sees a strategy other than sound policies that will get them elected. That strategy stems from the public's susceptibility to advertising and charisma over logic and reason. This is not the public's fault, but we must acknowledge this weakness before it can be overcome. With this knowledge and with a vengeful vigilance, we can identify corruption, inform our peers, and send a message to our representatives that they no longer answer to money: they answer to the people.

The culture of inbred political back-patting will only result in webbed fingers and genetic diseases in our political environment. New ideas and opinions need to be introduced and opposing points of view need to be welcomed and accepted into the conversation. The idea that we are strong if we all agree is bogus. It only means we are not thinking about better ideas, as if we have already reached the best conclusions. We can see through our struggles and current public opinion that we have not. The idea that if we change our direction, it will reveal a weakness is a demonstration of insecurity and distrust. Furthermore, science teaches us that we must ask questions and challenge ideas if we are going to learn anything. Without the ability and acceptance to present new views and policies, we cannot be sure that we what have are the most ideal.