The word "people" is used extensively throughout the history of our great nation, from our preamble to the constitution through Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and beyond, including a 1960s song by Barbara Streisand. These "people" are sometimes described as a mass of ordinary persons. Regular people themselves have carried a burdensome load and have been the true victims of sacrifice and toil throughout American history. In today's society, they are also used and abused in many ways. People, as voters, are used for their vote, and after the election, are usually cast aside until the next election - regardless of campaign promises made. Promises to armed forces members and veterans, who are also people, are sometimes put on hold. When anything is needed in the form of taxation for police, fire fighters, teachers and education, money management itself seems to be discarded in favor of "Let the people do it with a new levy." People pay taxes and expect to, but please - give them a break! Ordinary people have been good to this country, accepting poor judgment and mismanagement from those in high places making senseless decisions more often than not.
We are now embroiled in not only a problem, but a catastrophe, and again, the great everyday people have to suffer. Millions of pink slips are now being issued to hard-working Americans who just want their job and some dignity to raise their families and maintain a home. Our fat cats (economy killers) guised as Wall Street executives are as greedy as ever. They are living their lavish lifestyles while milking the very lives and existence from great people. "Where is my bonus?" is their favorite theme. In days of old, they would at least have been tarred and feathered. Our politicians also are pouting like little spoiled kids or brats, too many times choosing party over country, which is absurd. They are so out of touch with real people.
You see, plain, ordinary people pay the majority of the taxes, enlist in the armed forces, fight the wars, spend countless money on charities, serve their families in many ways - country, church, community - and still volunteer in other ways of service in the form of service clubs and other organizations. Are we as people being taken for granted? It seems the higher one ascends in society or occupation, the more out of touch with real people they become. Different groups get involved in their own cliques or exclusive groups or social crowds totally forgetting where they came from. Are good regular people becoming helpless victims, no longer associated with the "American Dream," or is that all a myth?
There seems to be so many types of cliques in society. After this past long election, you notice the news media, especially cable news, seems to be off in a world of their own. Instead of giving the latest news, they now tend to be experts on almost anything from who should get elected or not and why, plus all the gossip that we as people can tolerate. They constantly seem to try to ram down the throat of the voters, who are people, their choice with statistics. In sports, these experts spend hours of air time telling you the people who should win the game and why. There are just too many news and sports analysts, who are too cliquish. Please just give the news and sports. Let the people make their own decisions.
At the time of this writing, during this deep recession, there is a major stimulus plan before our Congress, authored by a new president and his staff and Congress. Who knows whether it will be sufficient or do the job intended? Will it even pass? We all know that the people are hurting in the job market, health care, housing and most other facets of life. The people themselves deserve a better break than a deep, deep recession with fears of depression and more gloom. Decisions now being made are quite crucial for our children and grandchildren and the burdens they may inherit. People have to rely on decisions made to affect them and their families' very lives.
After all, it is a nation of the people, by the people and for the people.