4 JULY—This day, the 4th of July, ought to be one of deep reflection, a day when every American asks whether or not we as a people have held to the ideals upon which the nation was founded. Instead, it has become an unthinking, mindless celebration of American greatness by a people who are deeply demoralized and who know, even if they cannot consciously admit it, that America is not great and has not been for a very long time. The parades, fireworks, picnics are all a distraction, a flinch from reality, a thin veneer applied to a bloated rotting empire. It no longer has any genuine meaning and has devolved into a display of bread and circuses.
It is obvious that the West in general and the United States in particular, are governed by individuals whose behavior is indistinguishable from that of high-functioning sociopaths.
For starters, the common people have to stop voting for the duopoly of Repulsive Party and DemoRAT Party politicians, if they REALLY WANT progressive change and a more just and egalitarian society. Keeping the R's & D's in office is the problem, as they continually fool most voters with their good guy/bad guy theatrics on the floors of Congress.
I couldn't agree more. One of the single most important things anyone can do is to free themselves from their party loyalty. Party loyalty blinds people. It completely destroys any chances for revolutionary change. It prevents people from bonding together around common concerns. Republicans and Democrats have intentionally split us into two camps and keep us at each other's throats so we don't rise up against them. Just my opinion of course. ;-)
An exchange that is probably apocryphal has Benjamin Franklin telling a woman that, indeed, she has her republic, if she can keep it. Clearly, we have been unable to do so.
I blame the people.
Granted the government is actually the proximate cause but the people are supposed to be in control of the government except, of course, we know that we're not. The real problem is the lawyers most of whom should be required to get a real job. But how, really, did some of our problems come about?
At the turn of the last century, a bunch of women got together and got a constitutional amendment passed outlawing alcohol. That was spectacularly stupid and should have barred women from ever voting. While that's a great aside, that's not my point. The constitution doesn't grant the US government the power to control something like alcohol. Hence the need for a constitutional amendment. Which necessitated another amendment to undo the first. But in the meantime, the evil lawyers had been at work and congress passed the pure food and drug act. Suddenly the US can ban anything, including alcohol. Not in the constitution? No problem! Just write a law and give yourself the authority! Not the process described in the constitution? No problem! Just ignore it.
Another wonderous invention that is subverting our democracy – imaginative interpretations of apparently mundane constitutional clauses. Did you know that the Civil Rights act's constitutional authority is the Interstate Commerce Clause? Somehow, I find that morally repugnant. To make matters worse, the ICC has been the basis for a lot of law since the great depression.
Another thing that subverts our democracy – judicial activism. Back in the '50s some widows sued the government when their civilian husbands were killed in an aircraft accident in a B-29. They alleged that this document laid everything out and they wanted to enter it into the case. The government claimed it was classified and putting it in the case would compromise national security. The SC created the national security exception to the 6th amendment to the constitution. If the government declares national security, they no longer have to prove their case, they just win. It wouldn't be too bad if instead of proving their case they essentially agreed to lose. To make matters worse, when the document was finally declassified a few years back, it was discovered that (a) it said what the widows said it said, and (b) the paragraph they were interested in was unclassified.
On your last paragraph, it brings to mind the greatest play I ever say in live theater. Arthur Miller's, "All My Sons," about human greed. It's timeless , unfortunately.
Cara, even many of the program hosts and their guests on kpfa.org who should know better talk about Russian aggression, Putin's war, etc., etc. and it really disgusts me as I've been a financial supporter for many years. It's the oldest "Listener supported" radio station in America, since 1949.
Also, who made the United States ruler of the world in imposing sanctions, on which other countries must obey?
It is obvious that the West in general and the United States in particular, are governed by individuals whose behavior is indistinguishable from that of high-functioning sociopaths.
What do people propose to do about it?
For starters, the common people have to stop voting for the duopoly of Repulsive Party and DemoRAT Party politicians, if they REALLY WANT progressive change and a more just and egalitarian society. Keeping the R's & D's in office is the problem, as they continually fool most voters with their good guy/bad guy theatrics on the floors of Congress.
Cara, Excellent article, too!
I couldn't agree more. One of the single most important things anyone can do is to free themselves from their party loyalty. Party loyalty blinds people. It completely destroys any chances for revolutionary change. It prevents people from bonding together around common concerns. Republicans and Democrats have intentionally split us into two camps and keep us at each other's throats so we don't rise up against them. Just my opinion of course. ;-)
You're so right, Cara! And no, it's not just your opinion, it's an actual fact.
An exchange that is probably apocryphal has Benjamin Franklin telling a woman that, indeed, she has her republic, if she can keep it. Clearly, we have been unable to do so.
I blame the people.
Granted the government is actually the proximate cause but the people are supposed to be in control of the government except, of course, we know that we're not. The real problem is the lawyers most of whom should be required to get a real job. But how, really, did some of our problems come about?
At the turn of the last century, a bunch of women got together and got a constitutional amendment passed outlawing alcohol. That was spectacularly stupid and should have barred women from ever voting. While that's a great aside, that's not my point. The constitution doesn't grant the US government the power to control something like alcohol. Hence the need for a constitutional amendment. Which necessitated another amendment to undo the first. But in the meantime, the evil lawyers had been at work and congress passed the pure food and drug act. Suddenly the US can ban anything, including alcohol. Not in the constitution? No problem! Just write a law and give yourself the authority! Not the process described in the constitution? No problem! Just ignore it.
Another wonderous invention that is subverting our democracy – imaginative interpretations of apparently mundane constitutional clauses. Did you know that the Civil Rights act's constitutional authority is the Interstate Commerce Clause? Somehow, I find that morally repugnant. To make matters worse, the ICC has been the basis for a lot of law since the great depression.
Another thing that subverts our democracy – judicial activism. Back in the '50s some widows sued the government when their civilian husbands were killed in an aircraft accident in a B-29. They alleged that this document laid everything out and they wanted to enter it into the case. The government claimed it was classified and putting it in the case would compromise national security. The SC created the national security exception to the 6th amendment to the constitution. If the government declares national security, they no longer have to prove their case, they just win. It wouldn't be too bad if instead of proving their case they essentially agreed to lose. To make matters worse, when the document was finally declassified a few years back, it was discovered that (a) it said what the widows said it said, and (b) the paragraph they were interested in was unclassified.
And that's for openers.
Thanks, Jeff. I didn't know all of that history.
On your last paragraph, it brings to mind the greatest play I ever say in live theater. Arthur Miller's, "All My Sons," about human greed. It's timeless , unfortunately.
Cara, even many of the program hosts and their guests on kpfa.org who should know better talk about Russian aggression, Putin's war, etc., etc. and it really disgusts me as I've been a financial supporter for many years. It's the oldest "Listener supported" radio station in America, since 1949.
Also, who made the United States ruler of the world in imposing sanctions, on which other countries must obey?