Backdoor Democracy

Time and time again we hear the same sort of rhetoric: America is the "city on a hill," the world's oasis for freedom and liberty. But just how true is that? Well, we all know the answer. There isn't anything new there. And even if there is - and trust me, there is - it is only obvious. We aren't that oasis, not because we cannot advocate our government - because we can - but because it is how the influence is made.

The logistics of influencing your government, the logistics of Democracy, is a lot more convoluted than writing to your congressman or stepping out with a picket sign. Influence cannot be made until that apathy that guards a person's attention is broken, but considering our "economic parallel," the counterpart of our "democracy," the capitalist system that so-called guards our "way of life" provides for a perfect dissolving agent: money.

If there is no better example of such lobbying methods, the most recent one, involving a certain company by the name of LightSquared, definitely shows it. LightSquared recently released a new, "cutting-edge" technology that, according to that very company's research group, is the best example of green technology. But, despite all the "research" the company made, there lies a more concrete proof that shows it - as in this newest technology - is more of a curse than a blessing. This system degrades or rather dilutes GPS signals, therefore, serving as an impediment to civilian and military convenience.

Nevertheless, despite this hassle-free argument, because of the subtle "help" the new system provides, there really is no need for it, at least besides the fact that the company's CEO and the prime investor provided for the DNC and RNC's treasury, more than 13 grand.

At the end of the day, this example exposes a deeper truth of our Capitalistic Democracy. First, it shows that the invisible hand may rest upon the most efficient of products and whatnot, but, in reality, it is not efficiency that is given a priority, but rather the interest of customers. Either way, the system serves as an ammoral one, not yielding to the limits of a sound conscience. Thus, it is only natural to provide this limitation by the power of the people, the power of a Democratic government. (Note: Capitalism, despite its democratic tendencies, is not very egalitarian, the basis of a democracy.) However, under this effect, and its obsession with "capital," this check on the ammorality of our economic system is undone and THAT is why such a system is only a paradox. A state cannot follow both philosophical contradictions, capitalism and democracy.    

LightSquared says it has engineered a network solution to interference concerns with GPS systems, as debate continue over the company's expansion plans.
The Reston, Va.-based company's CEO Sanjib Ahuja said the fix should alleviate complaints that its signals cripple military, aviation, weather and commercial GPS signals.
Ahuja and Jeffrey Carlisle, the company's executive vice president of regulatory affairs and public policy, did not say exactly what the fix will involve, but Carlisle added it designed prototype equipment to resolve the issue.
The company plans to spend $14 billion over the next eight years to build a terrestrial wireless network, and will pay $9 billion to Sprint for use of its cell phone tower system. LightSquared then plans to wholesale the 4G LTE service to Sprint, Best Buy and other companies.
However, the Federal Communications Commission put LightSquared's plans on hold while tests continue about the GPS issues, and said Tuesday even more tests should be held before a decision is reached.
LightSquared may come up with a solution to the interference issue, but the FCC will likely order even more tests on it before approving the company's service extension plans, delaying LightSquared's launch even further. More>