To other countries, the U.S. is viewed as a nation that prides itself on the accumulation of wealth and success. In other words if you have enough money you are deemed a success, and with America’s addiction to celebrities, if you have wealth and “star” status you make the newspaper headlines. The pursuit of the “American Dream” however has become it’s worst nightmare. Check out the growth of rehab centres, the shrinking of the middle class, the foreclosures, the increased crime and violence, and the 47 million Americans suffering from illness and disease because they are too poor to have health insurance.

When Obama reached $25 million in campaign contributions, he made the headlines and was immediately elevated to the rank of a possible conteneder. Conversley if you have “star” power, and no money, you are still classified as a “loser”. What is broken in America is the political process, where money is equated to power and power is equated to success. Oprah has money and “star” status, so when she gets behind Obama he is suddenly elevated in the minds of the American people.

Other countries view America as a “narccistic”, spoiled child, and a bully who always gets what he wants. Bush Jnr. has spent the last 8 years proving all of the rest of the world right.

Make no mistake Obama and Clinton have both bought votes. Only 3% of American indivudals actually give to political campaigns, that leaves 97% to come from major corporate contributions and self interest groups. The truth is, and the truth hurts, Wall Street is in bed with the White Hous and the White House is in bed with Wall Street.

I do feel that it will take a fundamental shift in the way Americans are elected to congress and the white house. But that requires a tsunami of change to come from the middle class. The gap between the rich and poor in America has never been greater.

The poor have no money, therefore no power. The rich have money and the power. The middle class have a voice and a little money. The “Middle Class” revoltion is the only hope. This is America’s wake up call. Take the campaigns away from the candidates and their managers. Politicals strategists will alway advise candidates to say “what people want to hear them say”.

According to the Center for Public Integrity we are at the lowest level of trust of governments and companies since the 1930’s.

Americans need to start thinking about who they are and what they have become.

The middle class have become it’s greatest losers and subsequently “its’ greatest hope”. You have strength in numbers and a reason to be passionate about your cause. Start a “grass roots” movement that personifies truth, honesty and success measured in values, integrity, and compassion, rather than money and power. That is America’s only hope. The Dalai Lama has said that it will take 8-10 years for America to change, let’s hope it is within our lifetime and the lifetime of our grandchildren. Let the revolution begin!

I have been a democrat all my voting life because the candidates of that party always seemed to focus more on domestic issues than international, which is where the lives of most of the middle class are lived. I in fact just took a quick survey at: http://shouldyoubepresident.com to see which candidate is most aligned to my beliefs, and the results were solidly democratic (interestingly enough, Guiliani’s platform came up 0 on the issues that matter to me!). Based on my answers, Clinton, Obama, and Richardson are most aligned with my political beliefs — all tied on this issues-in-a-nutshell test.

So one important question to consider regarding my vote in the primary is who do I really believe is the most electable democrat? And the second is, who do I feel confident would be able to handle the extraordinary demands of this office, once elected?

The answers to both those questions for me is Hillary Clinton. She may not be the best orator, but she has proven to me she is a doer — someone who can get a job done — as her healthcare proposal during her husband’s presidency showed. And I believe she has the compassion and passion to do for the greater good, for the most part. She has also proven that she can handle extraordinary pressure with grace, a sense of dignity, focus, and perseverance.

The youth and earnestness of Obama and Edwards may be attractive, but they were quite unattractive last Saturday night in the debate when they ganged up on Hillary in typical male dominance fashion. While Obama turned many heads with his victory in Iowa, which was truly remarkable and inspiring, the “change” Americans need most is the wind propelling Hillary Clinton’s wings, IMO. She has my vote not JUST because she’s a female, but because she’s a female aligned with my political beliefs, and has the character to stand strong, tall, and intelligent in office.

The other unique thing about the Edwards campaign is that is accepting no PAC money or corporate donations. It is being funded totally by individuals who support John, so as President, Edwards would be beholden to no one except the voters who put him there.