Recently i have the feeling that more and more people around me (including myself) complain about the current political direction especially Germany is taking – which is supposed to be a kind of role model for the European Union mind you. No matter if it is the bailout of the car or pharmaceutic industry, the banks or the censorship of the internet (and other attacks on the citizen’s privacy), we have the feeling that no matter how we vote, the politicians make their decisions based on all other arguments except our own point of view: Power, Lobbyists, Money – All seems to direct the ones in power. Where is the influence of the people and the good will of politicians to come back to be what they are supposed to be: employees of the public? It is getting difficult for all sides, since a person who actually acts in favor of the public is under suspicion immediately that his/her acts are just a well-planned scheme. The biggest problem we face however is the resulting indifference among us. We should therefore remind ourselves that we still own one of the most powerful tools to influence political and economic decision makers: our money! As long as we still have some, we should use it to make a vote every day to what kind of world we would like to have, what products and ways of production we support and who we want in control.

Vote by Money

Every journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step – Here is a list of things i am already doing or starting to do and why:

  • Research where a product is produced before buying it and decide between two almost equal products because of their origin – i dont want to support certain governments or company policies and of course like to avoid transports around half the globe.
  • Switch from energy saving light bulbs to LED – Why politics is pushing for mercury containing light bulbs remains a mystery to me.
  • Buy bio products, preferably even on a farmer’s market and/or butcher – support the local life surrounding me, avoid long transports again.
  • Switch to renewable energies – best example of the rule above.

Which other steps come into YOUR mind?