How can we control the politicians instead of having them control us?

How can we control the politicians instead of having them control us? Oh, yes, we can vote about every four or five years and we can sit on juries to judge our peers and protect them from the spiteful excesses of law. But that's about it.





How can we politically empower ourselves?How can we control the politicians instead of having them control us?
Some people here really don't understand. Voting is a joke. It's a game. A rigged system set up to give people the illusion of choice. Hell you can't even really cause fear in most politicians anymore because if you vote them out they just become lobbyists and make MORE money. What the hell do they have to fear from us? None of the candidates not McCain, Romney, Obama, or Hitlary is anything other than a corporate stooge. Bought and paid for. People are overly impressed with who raised the most money, WTF?!?! Vote for who raises the least money! He/She has less masters to appease! The whole reason we had the right to bear arms (HAD!) is to throw the bums out, but people think that amendment is about sport hunting. I really don't know what the answer to your question is but I know one thing. Doing what politicians say you should do is not the answer.How can we control the politicians instead of having them control us?
you can't. Not with any legal means, anyway.





There's no real change without revolution.
politicians tell us they will do things for us if we elect them and as soon as they are elected they go back on their word, they do it for the big fat wage packets and don't listen to us when we complain because they already were they want to be.
VOTE!!!!!!!!!
protest! start messing up there system so they have to notice!!





PEOPLE POWER!!
Voting is of course the obvious answer but as you write, it doesn't happen too often.





The strongest way to influence the politicans is probably using the media, or creating a debate like the environment issue going on right now. Not as easy as it sounds, though.





You can also participate in a party and from that way try to influence politicans. There's also lobbying.
Surely you just answered your own question? If politicians need our votes to get in, then in what sense do they ';control'; us? If you want to politically empower yourself, try meeting your local MP and raising your issue with them - the point of a MP is to reflect your views, so why look for another mechanism?
Control use of or spending of tax dollars.


For example, one pays $10,00.00 in federal taxes this year, hypothetical fact [given].


Then said patriot has the absolute and sole right to determine how it will be used or spent. To further illustrate:


Say said citizen desires that zero dollars of his/her money is spent overseas, then in this particular case zero dollars are added unto foreign budget.


Say said American desires to use 50% for highway and road improvements. Then $5, 000.00 dollars are added unto said capitol projects.


Say fellow country man/woman decided to invest the balance 50% into R%26amp;D for American business development, i.e. increase U.S.A. jobs ^ employement. Then said budget is both created and funded to the tune of $5,000.00.


Key Factor: all other budgets are autoimaticly deleted per tax payer's choice.


Pros: the true voice of America has, in fact, spoken and was adhered unto!


Cons: the rich will *****, because they have no voice, but then again they pay not taxes. Therefore I, personally, believe that they should pay if they desire to play!


Also, the poor will grumble and complain, yet they, too do not pay taxes. Thus, to improve their plot in American life, they must seek employment and pay taxes. Otherwise, shut-the hell-up!


Result, no need of legislators, we govern and speak, and vote for our ownselves; dump 'em; scrap 'em; expatiate 'em!


We'll keep the judical and excelsior executive branches, thus exiguous government = better government.
It seems the system isn't set up that way... we aren't given a voice.





And even if we do speak up about something, they don't listen anyway!
VOTE, for a start.


Work for politicians who support the issues important to you. (That way you can influence many votes.)


Know who your political representatives are at every level (local, state and federal) and e-mail, write, telephone them well in advance about issues important to you. Organize e-mail, phone, letter-writing campaigns. (Strength in numbers!)


Educate yourself. There are ways to bring down corrupt politicians rather than waiting until their term in office is up and voting them out. (Impeachment is one. Is it available at local level?) Petitions can be very effective. And don't forget to keep the local media (press, TV and radio) informed of your actions.


It IS a lot of work. But if you want to be empowered, that's basically what you're going to have to do.


Run for office yourself.


Be the politician you want to have.
Vote if its election time. Protest if it's not. Remember they can't arrest everyone. Protest outside Westminster if you have to, it's not right that they made it illegal!
Vote, and get involved in either the political party of your choice, or some level of local politics.





Ask Jimmy Carter about Habitat Humanity. That's one that still works.
What Asrobs said, ';VOTE!!!';





In OUR country, you are FREE to speak AGAINST this politician, well, you USED to be able to speak against him prior to McCain-Feingold. Now, it can get you thrown into jail if you speak TOO closely to the election.