Branches

You know, back when I was in school, and we were learning about the political system in social studies (do they even bother now?), it only mildly interested me. I wasn't too keen on all the stuffy president-name-and-order-memorization thing, but the actual logistics intrigued me. As I understand it, there's a checks and balances system made up of three branches, so that no one supercedes the other, and the people are equally represented.

Fascinating ideal.

However, we only seem to be hearing from two of the three branches: executive and legislative, and they seem to have both forgotten whom they represent.

Do you remember?

This government is supposed to be of the people, for the people, and by the people.

So where the fuck are all the people?

I only see suits bursting at the seams with cash.

This isn't even about a new gun bill, fuck that. More laws aren't going to make criminals suddenly stop and think "hmmm... Nah, that breaks 13 laws now instead of 12, and that's unlucky. Time to retire from my life of crime."

It's about representation.

It's about the political system I learned about in school, where there were three branches of government, and they were all comprised of representatives of their constituents, and they knew it. Some of them were even members of one or more of the communities they represented.

...and they spoke on behalf of their people.

...and when they spoke, they did so with the voice of their people.

...and they got shit done.

Where's that America; the one I learned about in school? I want to live there.

The only legislation our representatives seem to be able pass anymore is the semi-annual "everybody gets a raise" bill.

These fat cats keep lining their pockets with our money, and using it to take vacations from not working.

Money doesn't grow on trees; branches do.