By David J. Hudson, WeMustChange.org

The definition of a lobbyist is “A person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest.” Now ask yourself who hires lobbyists? Who can afford to have a lobbyist other than the rich and corporations? This is another example of the playing field tilted in favor of those with power and money and another reason why we must change this corrupt system that puts the poor at a tremendous disadvantage.

Under a capitalistic system, you start a business, market and invest in that business, take risks and either succeed or fail. If you succeed, you benefit with monetary gain and if you fail, the opposite occurs. However, the corporations that took risks gambling their money on faulty mortgages, and other financial instruments etc. took chances and caused millions to lose their retirement, homes, etc. And guess what? They made money driving their businesses into a ditch and then made money getting their business out of the ditch with a bailout from the government; simply because they had someone in Washington lobbying for their interests.

They had the money to influence the votes of our elected leaders who are supposed to be working on behalf of the people who voted them in office. Instead our elected officials work for the lobbyists who represent corporations. My question is who works for the working class of this country if our elected officials don’t?

Now the very corporations, who received bailout money, took some of that money and gave it right back to the leaders who voted for the bailout in donations to their campaign. Does this seem to be corrupt? Is this fair or right? Is this ethical? Yet the media doesn’t cover or focus on stories like this because they are owned by corporations or somehow tied to or is benefitting from them financially in some way.

The people have yet to get outraged enough as to demand accountability and correct this type of behavior so it continues and the only one to suffer is the working class of this country. I often wonder, when will enough truly be enough? When will the “American” people get fed up with this blatant hypocrisy by our leaders in government which are puppets of corporations?

The media is suppose to look out and do investigative journalism that helps the average consumer but instead the media is in partnership with the big corporations and so this cycle of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer has no representation and therefore the cycle will continue if we don’t do something about it now.

Lobbying seems to be only for those with the means to afford them. So the poor, working class and dwindling middle class of this country is left to fend for themselves and thus far it’s been a losing battle. Who will stand up for the little people who don’t seem to have a decent, sincere and honorable representative speaking on their behalf? I’m sure there are a few leaders who care about the working class but that number is very small. I think the work of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Dennis Kucinich of Ohio deserves kudos and I’m sure a few others but we need more public officials running for office who are not corrupt and actually care about the voters who send them there.

The American people don’t stand a chance in getting legislation drafted that works to their benefit with our current system and current corrupted politicians. “We The People,” need to recognize that our leaders don’t have our best interests at heart and are frequently influenced by lobbyists to pass laws that put corporations at a complete advantage.

It’s time that the people wake up and realize that this travesty can not continue if this country is to ever become vibrant again. The rich can not control 90% of the pie and leave the remaining 10% for over 250 million people to fight for in this rat race of economic inequality. This economic enslavement must stop and we must change.

Now is the time to ask if change is what we really want. Now is the time to reflect back on the greed this country is built on and understand that this type of greed and lack of compassion for the majority must cease. Are you truly ready for change? If so, join me in this cause to change the world, starting at home in your community, then nationally and internationally. Together, we can do it. Together, we will succeed. “We Must Change.”