Someone claimed that 50% of Americans were employed by the government,
but when challenged, could not substantiate the claim.
Perhaps an indirect method to figure government employment is to assume
an average wage, figure total percentage of average taxation, both direct and
indirect added up, and that would be your percentage of government
employment. Another, if the information is available, is to figure the
percentage of the gross national product absorbed by all governmental
functions. Postal Employees such as
myself would not be included in the above formula as virtually all revenue is
consumer driven and is mainly not funded by taxes.
In a message dated 10/29/2000 10:29:22 AM Pacific Standard Time,
mattlouis.smith@... writes:

> >Do you think the percentage [of voters in the U.S.] will be >higher in the
> coming elections?
>
> I'm not sure. Unless the trend starts to reverse itself, this country will
> gradually become an oligarchic republic. If it is not already.
>
I believe a more accurate description of our present system is Plutocracy.

1 government by the wealthy
2 a group of wealthy people who control or influence a government

Above is the definition. Essentially candidates must compete for votes.
That requires a communication medium. All communication cost money. Those
with money offer funds, with hopes and arm twisting that their concerns will
be cover even if done quietly and covertly.
Those with the extra money are the ones who have done well with the
present system and usually try to keep it intact (Conservative) while at the
same time recalling parts of the present system that has impeded their
progress and wish to influence the political system to remove those road
blocks. On the other hand, they tend to favor roadblocks to their
competition to enhance their own endeavor.
It is the bottom level consumer who indirectly and unknowingly exercise
their plutocratic rights through their choice of spending. Those companies
who receive their dollars will by proxy influence political direction that is
favorable to that company. Politicians will say what is necessary to get
elected, but in the end, the real allegiance belongs to the source of their
campaign money, unless of course they wish to have a short career. Voters
know this and that is why voter turnout is so small. Initiatives that voters
have direct say on usually have high voter turnout.
The way out of this plutocratic mess is to find a way that the American
Public can have direct votes on Bills in government, with the politicians
being reduced to drafters of legislation and trying to sell to the public to
vote or not to vote on said laws.
What do you think?

Monty Vonn PO Box Q, Bellingham WA 98227-0599
montyquest@...

Check out my Web Site! Meme-Wars!
Sponsored by:
<A
HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/questarians/tqs.html">The Questarian Society</A>
http://hometown.aol.com/questarians/tqs.html