Remember, the early 1960s was a time when America as a nation was sleepy, complacent and confident. Washington D.C. had become "Camelot," and about half of the American population was financially satisfied and comfortable with the status quo. So America had to be awakened to the reality faced by their less fortunate fellow citizens who were disadvantaged, whether it was because of their race or gender or financial status.
A similar but more comprehensive awakening is needed now, but now we may not need to resort to civil disobedience. Legal means can and should be used first, and it now time to recognize that there are means available to us that have not yet been used.
As has been mentioned, America's Founders declared that it is the right and duty of citizens to alter and reform their government when it no longer serves their interests but instead serves the special interests of the wealthiest few who hold most of the wealth and all the power. And what Americans should now be aware of is that the Framers of the U.S. Constitution wisely created a way that we, the people, could do that, without having to resort to civil disobedience or violent revolution.
The U.S. Constitution includes Article 5 expressly so that we, the people, can legally and peacefully alter and reform our government when we find it necessary in order to establish equal rights, equal opportunities, equity, peace, freedom, liberty, and justice for all the people.
It has become necessary that we do so now, and rather than be tempted by anger, outrage and an urge to act out, Americans should now use the legal remedy that has been provided for us in Article 5.
That was suggested in 2006 by Joseph J. Adamson, who wrote The 21st Century Declaration of Independence. The Declaration itself is included in an article by that title, and while the Declaration is an updated and more comprehensive version of the original Declaration of Independence, the article is about how and why Americans should adopt the Declaration and use it as a plan of action, a blueprint for our liberation and empowerment, and an action item agenda for a Constitutional Convention.
Of course, as the article admits, critics of the updated and expanded Declaration claim it couldn't work. After all, in order to hold a Constitutional Convention, most state legislatures and the U.S. Congress would have to advocate and order it. Furthermore, since most state legislators and members of Congress are currently invested in the political economic system as it is, they would not be inclined to change or alter that system. With the situation as it is, they richly benefit from it and they believe it would not be in their interests to change or alter it. Indeed, most of them would probably claim that altering our government would not be in the interests of the American people.
However, we the people can change the situation.
Since we elected those state legislators and members of Congress, and since we at least still have the power of the vote, we can change it. Even though that power has increasingly been diminished during the last few decades as the system has increasingly been rigged to favor and enable the forces of greed and self-interest, we the people still have enough power to vote incumbent office holders out of office.
That is a threat we can issue by taking political action in a concerted grass roots, populist movement to demand our equal rights and equal opportunities. And, if we do that properly and legally, we can convince legislators that it would be in their best interests to obey the will of the people, call for a Constitutional Convention, and establish government that will be of the people, by the people, and for the people, at long last.
The way to do that, and the rationale for it, is suggested in articles that were the sources for this article, and they are:
The 21st Century Declaration of Independence
An Article 5 Constitutional Convention
Partisan Politics: A Corrupt, Failed System
Ronald Reagan's Real Legacy
The Reaganite "Gospel of Prosperity"
The Real Right Wing Conspiracy
Why the Civil War Is Related to the Current Partisan Political Conflict
Why the Meek Shall Inherit the Earth
We can always resort to civil disobedience if legal means fail. But, if we do have to resort to civil disobedience, we should remember the wisdom of Jesus of Nazareth, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi. For while civil disobedience could and may again become necessary, it should be demonstrated in the same spirit that it was demonstrated by the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and by the Peace, Love and Freedom movement exemplified during the Woodstock Concert of 1969.
A similar but more comprehensive awakening is needed now, but now we may not need to resort to civil disobedience. Legal means can and should be used first, and it now time to recognize that there are means available to us that have not yet been used.
As has been mentioned, America's Founders declared that it is the right and duty of citizens to alter and reform their government when it no longer serves their interests but instead serves the special interests of the wealthiest few who hold most of the wealth and all the power. And what Americans should now be aware of is that the Framers of the U.S. Constitution wisely created a way that we, the people, could do that, without having to resort to civil disobedience or violent revolution.
The U.S. Constitution includes Article 5 expressly so that we, the people, can legally and peacefully alter and reform our government when we find it necessary in order to establish equal rights, equal opportunities, equity, peace, freedom, liberty, and justice for all the people.
That was suggested in 2006 by Joseph J. Adamson, who wrote The 21st Century Declaration of Independence. The Declaration itself is included in an article by that title, and while the Declaration is an updated and more comprehensive version of the original Declaration of Independence, the article is about how and why Americans should adopt the Declaration and use it as a plan of action, a blueprint for our liberation and empowerment, and an action item agenda for a Constitutional Convention.
Of course, as the article admits, critics of the updated and expanded Declaration claim it couldn't work. After all, in order to hold a Constitutional Convention, most state legislatures and the U.S. Congress would have to advocate and order it. Furthermore, since most state legislators and members of Congress are currently invested in the political economic system as it is, they would not be inclined to change or alter that system. With the situation as it is, they richly benefit from it and they believe it would not be in their interests to change or alter it. Indeed, most of them would probably claim that altering our government would not be in the interests of the American people.
However, we the people can change the situation.
Since we elected those state legislators and members of Congress, and since we at least still have the power of the vote, we can change it. Even though that power has increasingly been diminished during the last few decades as the system has increasingly been rigged to favor and enable the forces of greed and self-interest, we the people still have enough power to vote incumbent office holders out of office.
That is a threat we can issue by taking political action in a concerted grass roots, populist movement to demand our equal rights and equal opportunities. And, if we do that properly and legally, we can convince legislators that it would be in their best interests to obey the will of the people, call for a Constitutional Convention, and establish government that will be of the people, by the people, and for the people, at long last.
The way to do that, and the rationale for it, is suggested in articles that were the sources for this article, and they are:
The 21st Century Declaration of Independence
An Article 5 Constitutional Convention
Partisan Politics: A Corrupt, Failed System
Ronald Reagan's Real Legacy
The Reaganite "Gospel of Prosperity"
The Real Right Wing Conspiracy
Why the Civil War Is Related to the Current Partisan Political Conflict
Why the Meek Shall Inherit the Earth
We can always resort to civil disobedience if legal means fail. But, if we do have to resort to civil disobedience, we should remember the wisdom of Jesus of Nazareth, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi. For while civil disobedience could and may again become necessary, it should be demonstrated in the same spirit that it was demonstrated by the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and by the Peace, Love and Freedom movement exemplified during the Woodstock Concert of 1969.
(Article changed on August 23, 2015 at 11:47)
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