Dealing with Paraducer Politicians

In the political realm, Paraducerism is a plague. The entire system rewards Paraducers for reinforcing the system of Paraducers, whether through laws they pass, or lobbyists who financially coexist with politicians, or corporate kickbacks they receive, or political favors they parlay into power. This happens at the local, state and federal level with no limits. We can find laws on the books that prohibit influence peddling, but you and I know that it goes on nonetheless, 24/7.

There are a few ways we can attack Paraducer politicians to reduce their power. The most obvious is the vote. Unfortunately, the Paraducer politicians work hard to ensure that no ballot contains any initiative that could in the least harm their system. We might throw one bum out of office, but the system installs another politician in his or her place with not one second’s delay; that’s part of the process and system. Efforts at term limits have in general failed to limit political power, or return it to the people.

Ballot initiatives related to the spending of public money are vulnerable, though. I make it a personal policy to vote against every bond issue appearing on my state ballot. Denying Paraducer politicians the money with which to ply their trade is, again, like denying blood to a leech. Voting against any expansion of government damages the Paraducers.

Here’s a great example of Washington Paraducer leeching. Remeber the Roth IRA? Where did that come from? Our spies were recently in the Senate lounge, where lots of fat white guys gather on Friday evening to smoke cigars (made of tobacco) and swill foreign liquor. Listen to what transpired:

Senator Larden: “This tight budget sure makes it tough to buy votes back home. Wish there was something we could do.”

Senator Drunkenbaum: “What we need is a huge infusion of cash into the general fund.”

Senator Dorkton: “I was reading a report saying there are hundreds of billions of dollars tied up in retirement accounts and IRAs. Wish we could get hold of that. Those people don’t need that money.”

Senator Larden (eyes narrowing, brain scheming): “You know, that might just be possible. I know that we promised we would never touch that money, but how about if we offer a tax benefit to switch that money to an account that is taxed before deposit, not at withdrawal? The money would be taxed once, as income, at the time of transfer.”

Senator Dorkton: “How would that affect the account holders? Would that increase or decrease their investment value?”

Senator Larden: “Are you sick? Who cares how it affects the account holders, as long as they think they are getting a tax benefit! And as long as we get a sizeable chunk of the account.”

Senator Dorkton: “But then we could not tax that money at withdrawal.”

Senator Larden: “Somebody call the Senate Physician... You are delirious, Dorkton. We can do anything we want, at any time. We are the Senate!” (sinister laughs all around)

Senator Drunkenbaum (a little tipsy): “Let me get this straight. We tell people to convert their accounts from IRA’s to this new type of IRA, and immediately send a big slice of it to us?”

Senator Larden (all jiggly and about to roll out of his velvet chair): “Yes! Yes! The money does not even move out of the account, and we get half of it just for changing its name! They get this great tax benefit that we can change any time we want.”

No matter what your CPA told you, when you switched to a Roth IRA, you sent a large chunk to the government Paraducers to waste. That money is now gone, spent on food stamps and crop subsidies (including tobacco), foreign booze and Congressional junkets. It might have been the best thing for you to do at the time, but what a crime for them to structure the system this way.

That brings us to the larger issue of political money. Without that money, the politicians starve. Money is their life blood. Along those lines, Producers should never give individually to a politician or campaign. Spending your time to get the “right” candidate elected seems like a great thing, but in the long run empowering any politician, even one you consider to be on your side, is a mistake. Spend your time Producing to your benefit, not theirs.

We must deny politicians money at all costs, even down to the presidential election fund check box on our tax return forms. Remember, they have zero original ideas, and when we stop feeding them free money, they will have to listen to us as Producers.

The last thing we can do as Producers to limit political power is encourage partisanship at every level. Now we don’t have to be nasty or divisive, but a few well placed letters to our representatives, or to the local newspaper can do the trick. Remember, we are not trying to change the world overnight, just bias the system in our favor, over time.

This is not the familiar divide and conquer approach. It is only the divide-and-let-them-bicker approach. The Paraducers in the micro are organized into groups, but they are not so organized in the macro. That means that we can pretty easily pit Paraducer groups against one another in the political arena, step back, and let them burn their time and resources fighting amongst themselves like spoiled children. We’ll never eliminate them, but we can keep them busy.

Simply asking thoughtful questions of Paraducers is enough to get them cooking:

“I see there was a proposal by doctors to limit malpractice awards.”

“That abortion issue is sure boiling over.”

“Did you see where that candidate you oppose raised fifty million dollars?”

This can be done at work, in Internet newsgroups, or at happy hour after work. Sometimes it works on higher level politicians for the right issue, but everyday Paraducers and local politicians are the most susceptible.

I’m not telling you to lie to anyone, or deceive anyone. As Producers, one of our assets is honesty and integrity. I am telling you to find that Paraducer’s spark and throw a little gasoline on it. He’ll love you for it.