Average tax payer who works more than 40 hours a week and are heavily taxed and heavily burdened by the government in various ways such as shaky economy, price hike, disaster relief, and national security. We the people have to face the burnt most of the times than compare to our elected officials in local, state and federal government.
One wonders that why these politicians think that they are smarter than the American public? The fault lies on us, the American public. Why? Because we are either consumed with party loyalties, silly ideas that are thrown to us by the elected officials, and media, so, they can get elected and we accept them due to our fear.
We must have a choice that we should not vote neither Republican nor Democrat. We should elect such a candidate who perhaps doesn't belong to any of those parties or if he / she belongs to anyone of the party his or her manifesto should represent, our (people) interests not the interests of highly paid lobbyist or businesses or industries.
I think it is about time that we the people, should do what is right for us, for the country and for the nation as a whole. We should vote in coming November elections and elect those representatives who we know will work for us. And if we don't know who will work for us, than we should elect them for one term and disregard them in coming terms if they didn't perform, regardless of party loyalty. For example, gubernatorial elections in Virginia are only for one term, but the same candidate would want to run for US Senate or Presidential candidate that’s when we can ditch them if they didn’t work for us during their term as a Governor.
I recall when I was in high school and one of my English teacher on subject of American Government proudly said that she was Republican and she was loyal to her party. I asked her “what about loyalty to the country? Loyalty to justice? Are these only left to teach us in text books and history books?”
I am sure many of us Americans are frustrated with federal government shutdown. Just imagine that ordinary tax payer who works for the federal government in any capacity has been furloughed, he or she has bills and rents or mortgage to pay. Not only the furloughed people are impacted but small businesses, mom-pop shops, peddlers and other businesses are being impacted heavily. Not to mention most of them do not have health care insurance and do not have opportunity to get a pay raise, compare to our elected officials in the Congress, or state or local government who enjoy health care, tax breaks and do get pay raise every set period of time.
It is about time that we need to cut healthcare benefits for the elected officials, so, we can get an American citizen the same benefits of healthcare and pay-raise perks that our elected officials enjoy.
As a Muslim I have a role model in the person of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). At one occasion when there was drought in Medina and people suffered, since, people of Medina were farmers, compare to immigrants from Mecca who were businessmen and thus were more affluent or in modern terms we can call them the 1% elites who runs the business. The Holy Prophet of Islam asked everyone to bring whatever (food or items of daily use) they have in their house to Masjid Nabwi (or the Medina Mosque). The companions readily brought. Those companions included poor and richer, so, they all brought accordingly. The Holy Prophet distributed equally among them, since, the time was tight and drought was prolonged. Once the drought was over he did not continue to practice for equal distribution, rather he encouraged the trade economy to flourish.
The point here is not that we should have government take over on our lives but the point is when the economic times are tight we need to care for those who will suffer the most. In Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) times economic situation was not so good so he first wanted to insure that poor should not suffer the most, rather he/she should get relief. When economic condition grew better, he let free market to thrive. Similarly, I think the government needs to cut their perks and provide relief to the people of this nation and when times are flourishing again they can get back their benefits.
Right now, average American doesn't have a decent health care. Instead, we are being victimized. Costs are high along with gasoline prices and other burnt that we are facing on daily basis. On the other hand we see our elected officials do not care about the people, which shows insensitivity on their part, and they continue to draw their salaries and other benefits.
Come Election Day people should not elect such people who have shut down the government, are not passing laws that will benefit American public and have not capped on their health care and pay-raise. Since, as a Muslim who believes in the Messiah Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Holy Prophet Muhammad has taught us Loyalty to one's country of residence or nation, and has taught us to obey the laws, therefore we will pray for better leaders to be elected for this beloved country of ours and vote for those who care about us, the people. God Willing!
