How influential are we?

Hi Cobrateacher. I guess I'll have to assume you are referring to the economic disasters and not the horrible natural disasters like floods and famine which we have almost no control over. So, as for the economy I believe the the politicians are affected by our concerns but only to the point that it will not get them removed from office to ignore our concerns. As a matter of fact, I believe that most it not all politicians are either corrupt when they are elected or become corrupt during their first year or two in office. Happy MyLotting...

we are much more influential then we think we are, but only if we stand out of the box and voice our concerns,our ideas. big issues are always brought up to the table by the social voice torrent, gay marriage, pets maltreatment,whatever..Things might be tight here in China in terms of protest, riolts,or word-bullying governments or legislatures, but we always tie ourselves into big issues that we care by putting our ideas on the internet, reporting to Non-central-governement journalists

We've affected the government incrementally...but I figure we haven't exercised this ability often enough over the past decade or so, so their ears to us have greatly dimmed...almost to the point where they'll move to spite us. Or that's the feeling I get anyway. I do see us influencing eachother so much more than we used to, and that's a step in the right direction, anyway. If enough of us scream, if enough of us stand, they'll still listen. I'm not sure for how much longer, but yeah. Some in the government do. I see clips of their fighting for us, fighting in Congress specifically...but they're a handful against hundreds who don't give a da*m. They've inspired alot of people, so while I can't say they've swayed the thinking of the rest alot, I can't say they've accomplished nothing.

Many of these people are good people who are trying to help our country be the best it can be. However many only care about us when it's time for us to vote again. As long as we are ruled by fear terrible mistakes will occur. Each of us can do that by living in the NOW, all wants and needs are in the future or the past, we can put the fear there by being conscious that right NOW we are safe. Even if you see the flood out the window, now you are safe so that you can move out of the way. If you are frozen by fear of what is coming you'll never move in time.

I know that the situation is not that good and govt is desperately trying to help its people so that we can get over from this situation asap! One thing I can't understand is that if there is no way that money could be stolen outside this world. The money is still there with people then why are we saying that we have no money left! Where has that money gone?

As long as the majority of us refuse to vote anything but the major parties, or to actually try to understand what governments are doing, we have no influence whatsoever. We buy into the "legitimacy" of our elected representatives and refuse to question it, and thus legitimate it. And governments of all ilks work very hard at shoring up their legitimacy, and protecting against civil disorder (see your GPS thread, for instance, Big Brother). We get the government we deserve. It seems that most of us don't feel we are deserving of anything worthwhile. Lash

maybe they do care somewhat but primarily they care for themselves,their loved ones andwhat really matters to them is how to mmake money.but i think the natural disasters even they cant prevent,sure they can help us to take prcautions.

Sure they care; they have families and friends and neighbors those people are constituents. I think that the process of government is not a symple thing and most institutions have strayed from the original purpose but that is to be expected when imperfect people with faults and shortcomings are the ones running governments. It is worse if private money and interest is really running the show.