Most of us are well aware that our country is in serious trouble and that our personal and collective well-being is in jeopardy. We have the awareness and the power to reverse our decline, yet we content ourselves with complaining, exposing the outrages of our government and irrationally asking one of the prime culprits (Congress) to reform itself.
Constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar wrote, in 1988, "Our failure to overcome inertia" (that is, our failure to bring about a constitutional convention) "can plausibly be attributed to a basic, even if not perfect, contentment with the status quo." [3] It is probable that we are less contented now than we were in 1988. It is also probable that Amar underestimated the difficulties and dangers involved in bringing about a convention.
Madison's views on political inertia in the face of oppression can be inferred from his letter to Patrick Henry of June 6, 1788. He wrote "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpation." As Madison implied, we become immune to outrage and unable to recognize any particular encroachment as the signal for resistance.
Solzhenitsyn wrote, in The Gulag Archipelago, ". . . we have failed to notice an enormous number of closely-fitted, well-disguised doors and gates in the fences. All these gates were prepared for us, every one! And all of a sudden, the fateful gate swings quickly open and four white hands, unaccustomed to physical labor but nevertheless strong and tenacious, grab us by the arm, leg, collar, cap, ear and drag us like a sack, and the gate behind us, the gate in our past life, is slammed shut, once and for all
That's all there is to it. You're arrested!
And you'll find nothing better to respond with than a lamblike bleat. Me? What for?"
Solzhenitsyn's scenario does not require planning or preparation or even a malicious intent on the part of those in power. Rather, unless checked, it follows naturally from the subtle, corrupting influences of power. Those who hold power, being human, have a natural desire to continue holding it. Being human, they take whatever steps are necessary to satisfy this desire. Being human, they are able to rationalize these steps, however heinous, as necessary and honorable.
EXISTING APPROACHES TO GOVERNMENT REFORM
We are currently focusing, not on reform, but rather on amelioration. Most of our NGO'S select and focus on one of the specific harms done by our plutocracy. The few NGO'S that concern themselves with the "root cause" of our difficulties divide their efforts and resources among three general approaches: self-improvement, the "federal approach" and the "state approach."
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
