If you choose not to read this post, I strongly urge you to click the link at the bottom. It’s a must-see video comparing the incomes of the richest people in America to yours and mine. Mind-blowing stuff.

I know, most of you vote in every, single election. But for those who don’t, let me try to explain why it’s not good enough to simply vote every 4 years. I'm not lecturing. I'm just irritated that lots people think democracy is some kind of spectator sport. Most of the issues that impact our lives on a personal level, particularly issues regarding our money, are decided by Congress. And our members of congress are elected every 2 years.

So if you care at all about your income and how it’s taxed, you need to vote at least every 2 years AND choose representatives for Congress who best reflect your interests.

Since our last congressional election in 2004, our senators and representatives have voted on:

A minimum wage increase (did not pass)

A tax cut for the wealthiest among us (passed)

Another tax cut for the wealthiest among us (passed)

Another tax cut for the wealthiest among us, AKA The Estate Tax (passed but was dumped in committee after a minimum wage increase was attached)

A bill that makes filing for bankruptcy more difficult for the working class but gives a free pass to the wealthy who abuse the bankruptcy system (passed)

Meanwhile, Congress has failed to provide Americans with any kind of affordable healthcare insurance, thus continuing to push working people further into debt.

They’ve attempted to privatize Social Security, an action that most economists agree will not resolve any problems with the system and will ultimately lead to the destruction of this country’s most successful social program. One that helps the poor, the elderly and the children of those who die early.

And if that weren’t enough, our tax code is set up so that only 60% of companies in the United States pay any federal income tax at all. Guess who makes up for the other 40%? That’s right. We do.

Congress has the power to change all that. Congress has the power to help you make more money – and to keep more of it, too.

Is it any wonder that The American Dream has become just that – a dream? Today, the poor get poorer. The middle class struggles to stay afloat. And the rich get richer. The system is set up that way. To achieve The American Dream, working-class people really have to beat the system. Congress is responsible, in large part, for that.

The good news is, one of the easiest ways to fix the system is to fix Congress. Read up, get out and vote this November. And, oh yeah, watch this video. It’s not an indictment of the wealthy but of a system that’s set up to create tremendous disparity between the haves and have-nots.

After watching the video, ask yourself this question:

Is it fair that our representatives represent only the economic interests of those inside the 1-yard line?

If you think that's unfair, join me at the polls next month and take back control over your own success. Elect representation that will help, not hinder you.