The self-improvement approach
Some of us are seeking to convince a critical mass of our fellow citizens to become less focused on their personal well-being and more concerned with the well-being of others. This is the "self-improvement" approach. This approach assumes that (1) this critical mass would elect candidates for Congress and the presidency who are also more concerned with the welfare of others. -- And (2) this new breed of civil officers would rid us of our plutocracy.
The "federal government" approach
Others of us are attempting to persuade our present federal civil officers to pass statutes or propose amendments for the common good. This is an extremely hard "sell." Genuine reform statutes or amendments would tend to reduce our civil officers' personal wealth, power, comfort and celebrity. Since they are normal, rational human beings, expecting them to pass laws or propose amendments that would reduce their tenure, wealth and celebrity is unrealistic.
The "state legislatures" approach
A third group seeks to change the structures of government so that democracy and honesty are more appealing to our civil officers than plutocracy and corruption. This approach requires constitutional amendments that are unlikely to be proposed by our federal government. Further, it hinges on persuading 34 of our state legislatures to call a constitutional convention.
OUR FOREFATHERS ATTEMPTED TO ARM US AGAINST PLUTOCRACY
The Declaration of Independence reads, in part, " . . . whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends" (life, liber6ty and the pursuit of happiness) " it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it . . ." Three of the forefathers to whom we are most indebted for our more than two centuries of relative liberty spoke clearly on this question. Washington wrote, in his Farwell Address of April 30, 1789, "The basis of our political Systems is the right of the people to alter their Constitutions of government." Jefferson wrote, in a letter to Madison of Sept. 6, 1789, ". . . every constitution expires at the end of nineteen years . . . The earth belongs to the living generation." Madison wrote, in Federalist No. 49, that, ". . . a constitutional road to the decision of the people ought to be marked out and kept open for certain great and extraordinary occasions." We have never exercised the right given us by our Declaration and remarked on by Washington, Jefferson and Madison.
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