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There are people at the ends of the political spectrum who have more in common than we might believe. Both the Tea Party on the right, and those very liberal on the left both share the concern that government is not functioning equally for everyone and that often, it's not in an individual's best interest. There's probably a lot in the middle who feel the same way.

I have a doctor friend, for example, who is very concerned that as a part of the new health regulations going into effect in 2013, after a visit to your doctor, he or she will have to send a report to a federally funded agency that details your condition, and that federal authorities who are not doctors, will be able to dictate what treatments he or she will be able to prescribe. Your doc will be liable for prosecution if he or she does not follow government guidelines as opposed to a protocol you and your doc decides is best for you. Is there anyone left, right or center who believes this is a good idea? 

One of the other great concerns is that within both political parties and through the very top into the current administration at cabinet level, there are individuals who have strong ties with companies that stand to lose a huge amount of money and power if:

1) Foods had to be labeled to identify GM ingredients.

2) Organic farmers could sue when crops are altered without their consent or knowledge.

3) Local health authorities would have to be able to prove that produce was unhealthy before destroying it, and stop threatening farmers who produce healthy unadulterated dairy products.

4) Doctors, hospitals, health clinics, drug and food manufactures and officials within the FDA could be liable for health problems directly resulting from root canals, metal amalgam fillings, mammograms, vaccines, and toxic chemicals in the food and water supply such as fluoride.

These are just a few things that go beyond traditional political boundaries and effect everyone. All the things I've mentioned are proven to my satisfaction to have profoundly ill effects on everyone, yet no one at any level of government seems to be able to even discuss it. TV and talk show hosts throughout the political spectrum continually dismiss my concerns as if i am some fringe lunatic.  I wonder how much money the TV owners would lose if anyone brought up the subjects I've mentioned. Maybe that's why we see so many ads on TV for medicines you can't even buy without a prescription. It looks like an investment for keeping the discussion off the table.

I'm not asking anyone to take my word for things, after all, I'm a folksinger not a scientist. But I am demanding an open honest discussion in the public arena. So far all I've seen is a bunch of dumbed down propaganda from people with a lot to lose, from shills of the mega-corps that I personally believe use the internet to outright lie and distort the truth on sites like 'quake watch' for their own financial gain.  It seems to me that if 'quake watch' discredits something, it's usually something that works.

I no longer trust that government is made up of ordinary people. We vote for local judges, county commissioners, state and federal representatives without knowing who they are really working for.  That's what angers so many people right and left, while the vast majority of people don't seem to believe there's something fundamentally wrong. I don't want clergy (even though I'm one), corporate goons or anyone advising elected officials without my knowledge. I want to know who stands to represent the people of this country and who cannot be bought. There is no one seriously able to become the next president of this nation who I trust, and that's a shame. And Mr. President, that includes you.