"The Ruling Class"

We always hear ourselves or people around us talk about the few people who really rule the world. Whether you think it's just a handful of old white men in Washington or the hidden masterminds of the Illuminati; we all seem to have the idea in our minds that only a few people are in charge, that only a few people are actually in a position to change the world, and the rest of us should just simply try to live a nice, quiet, happy life and hope it all turns out for the best.

This is both theoretically the farthest thing from the truth and realistically they way it is. Though I must always say that anything that is "just the way it is" in no way means that's the way it always has to be, all things change; the question then is who changes them?

There are only two types of people in this world who are able to rule and make changes and get things done: those that pay attention and those that get involved. And nine times out of ten those people in charge are both those things. They are not the ones in the "ruling class" because they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth or because they are just iherently better or more well suited to govern other people or be in charge of a multinational conglomorate. They are in the position they are in because they paid attention to the many aspects of the world around them and because they decided to not just bitch and complain with their buddies over a few beers, but to stop playing Monday Morning Quarterback, get off their ass, and go try to make some changes in the world.

Too many people have been ingrained with the idea that they can't make a difference, they aren't good enough to do something "big", or that it's all pointless anyway because apparently some cosmic force has already decided who will run things and who will be run over. But speaking from experience I can say that there is great virtue in getting off your ass and doing something, you can make a huge difference in the world by doing something so simple as talking to your neighbors and going door to door to meet your fellow human beings and inform them about something you are passionate about. 

So if you're tired of things not being how you want them, then do something about it. Be the change you want to see in the world; it worked for Ghandi, and all he had to do was sit down and not eat anything. Pay attention to what's going on in this huge, incredible, and diverse world. Get involved in your local neighborhood's social networkd, local, state, and federal politics, attend the weekly PTA meetings, read reputible newspapers, listen to NPR on the way to work instead of the oldies station, just focus on what you care about and think is important for the world around you and if you see something wrong, try to fix it, it's actually not that hard!