Will the coins cost too much?

or will the Noe saga pass with little changed......

Call me skeptical, but the problems resulting from "Coingate" as they call it and the additional stories about Bob Ney and his gambling "luck" might not bring about the change in Republican control of Ohio. The whole reason why this has happened and why Republicans have held on to power has to do with men like Tom Noe. The huge financial backing of Republicans has created this and the Democrats to date have not been able to compete. Democrats trying to challenge Republicans don't have the same million dollar bankrolls in the majority of cases, especially when they are trying to go against an incumbant.

We've created a situation where the rich or the friends of the rich who are out of touch with our own personal lives keep getting elected and re-elected. Except in very rare situations, the regular average citizen who has a desire to make a difference never even gets up to bat. Term limits aren't enough to change this, it's going to take real finance reform, not the half-assed attempts done in the past. Expecting Congress to police itself has proven how well that works, as they don't want to lose their PAC's and various other ways they've learned how to legally skirt the rules.

It's up to us to change this, to see beyond the million dollar media presentations that hit us each election season and educate ourselves as to the candidates. Support those like Mark Dann, as an example, that have made campaign finance reform a part of his whole ideal system. Elect more like him, realizing that a few once they hit the "big time" will suddenly change because they have been affected by the dark side of the force.....However the more we send that share the belief that corporations and rich individuals should not dictate who has the power that it should be of the people by the people the odds increase that real changes will be made.

I realize my dream of government returning to the way it was designed with no one or two parties holding the majority of power in Congress will probably never happen. We waited too long to remember the warnings of George Washington and others. However, that doesn't mean we have to accept things the way the are or that we are powerless to try to make real change happen. We do still hold the power, and the trick is to get people to remember that when they are voting. To stop voting for someone because you've seen more ads on tv, and you assume since they won before they should automatically be returned to office. Take the time to find out what your representatives actually stand for before you vote.

Find out which corporations or organizations are financing them. Chances are if it is something you don't support you'll find very little luck in getting that representative to work for you. Human nature dictates they make those who provide them with power and money happy before they will you. Once they are in office? Don't let them forget you are out there. That you are still paying attention. Don't just give critiques but find time to also compliment them when they do something you do agree with. Positive reinforcement still works the best and it's most likely to get beyond their staff into their actual hands.

Each of us does hold the real power....all we have to do is use it.....