I would submit that your definition of our government’s purpose is another way of describing the Preamble PLUS you bring up two of the root causes for our democracy’s decay. You note that our government is supposed “… to protect the Constitution and the People by leveling the playing field and helping to make citizens' lives easier to n…
I would submit that your definition of our government’s purpose is another way of describing the Preamble PLUS you bring up two of the root causes for our democracy’s decay. You note that our government is supposed “… to protect the Constitution and the People by leveling the playing field and helping to make citizens' lives easier to navigate so that they can prosper.” That is certainly pithier than the Preamble, though I’ve always thought that Hamilton’s synopsis of it to be great as well because it also includes a reference to protecting our citizens from the morbidly rich like you did. Hamilton said, “We are attempting, by this Constitution, to abolish factions, and to unite all parties for the general welfare.” Whether it’s factions or rich bastards, they are the assholes who do things adverse to our rights and our communities’ interests. Regardless of what people decide is the purpose of our government (and I think the Preamble pretty much puts that question to rest), we first need to agree on what it is or we’ll continue to have millions get flimflammed by the master grifters. There is nothing more fundamental for any enterprise that wants to be a going concern than a mission statement that defines the purpose. Once we agree that uniting for the general welfare and protecting us from rich bastards is the purpose, then I believe the best way to achieve that purpose is, first, to sever the control that the factions/rich bastards have over our government’s decision-makers (the hard part), and then collaborate with our citizens to design and implement role model education, role model healthcare, and role model security for everyone. As you noted, we have millions of citizens who never learned that they should participate in our democracy, much less how, making them eager marks for the bullshit. Maybe they will never learn that they are being played, but that doesn't mean their kids can’t learn the truth. Since this has been a multi-generational propaganda campaign that has promoted bad decision-making skills it’s going to take some time to fix things, but I’m confident that if we ever got to the point where we could build a role model education system (like the one that Finland learned to build from American educators), we would have enough citizens who knew what to do.
It's so frustrating that generations of young people aren't learning or taking to heart the rock-hard principles undergirding the Constitution and "the American way" -- what used to be a source of pride and inspiration for people the world over suffering and yearning for self-rule under authoritarian forms of government. Not so much anymore.
Americans also suffered for centuries, gradually winning rights for women, minorities, the poor, the young, the elderly, blue-collar workers, and their families. Now, it seems we're slipping backward thanks to mass delusions and outright lies encouraged by those seeking more perfect power for themselves rather than a "more perfect union" for the People.
I would submit that your definition of our government’s purpose is another way of describing the Preamble PLUS you bring up two of the root causes for our democracy’s decay. You note that our government is supposed “… to protect the Constitution and the People by leveling the playing field and helping to make citizens' lives easier to navigate so that they can prosper.” That is certainly pithier than the Preamble, though I’ve always thought that Hamilton’s synopsis of it to be great as well because it also includes a reference to protecting our citizens from the morbidly rich like you did. Hamilton said, “We are attempting, by this Constitution, to abolish factions, and to unite all parties for the general welfare.” Whether it’s factions or rich bastards, they are the assholes who do things adverse to our rights and our communities’ interests. Regardless of what people decide is the purpose of our government (and I think the Preamble pretty much puts that question to rest), we first need to agree on what it is or we’ll continue to have millions get flimflammed by the master grifters. There is nothing more fundamental for any enterprise that wants to be a going concern than a mission statement that defines the purpose. Once we agree that uniting for the general welfare and protecting us from rich bastards is the purpose, then I believe the best way to achieve that purpose is, first, to sever the control that the factions/rich bastards have over our government’s decision-makers (the hard part), and then collaborate with our citizens to design and implement role model education, role model healthcare, and role model security for everyone. As you noted, we have millions of citizens who never learned that they should participate in our democracy, much less how, making them eager marks for the bullshit. Maybe they will never learn that they are being played, but that doesn't mean their kids can’t learn the truth. Since this has been a multi-generational propaganda campaign that has promoted bad decision-making skills it’s going to take some time to fix things, but I’m confident that if we ever got to the point where we could build a role model education system (like the one that Finland learned to build from American educators), we would have enough citizens who knew what to do.
It's so frustrating that generations of young people aren't learning or taking to heart the rock-hard principles undergirding the Constitution and "the American way" -- what used to be a source of pride and inspiration for people the world over suffering and yearning for self-rule under authoritarian forms of government. Not so much anymore.
Americans also suffered for centuries, gradually winning rights for women, minorities, the poor, the young, the elderly, blue-collar workers, and their families. Now, it seems we're slipping backward thanks to mass delusions and outright lies encouraged by those seeking more perfect power for themselves rather than a "more perfect union" for the People.
Great read, Dave! Thanks.
Thank you for your insights and perspectives. If you aren't already, you should be making money with your writing.
Naw, it's only my two-cent's worth to unburden the soul... and to troll for trolls, which is great entertainment. Thom's blog is one of the best!