Is democracy suitable to your political values?
The fundamental political rights granted by our constitution are extensive. Two of the most important rights defined by the constitution are the individual's philosophical and physical defences against government intrusion, and the right to a democratic government.
These interlocked rights are the keystones of individual sovereignty and the basis of democratic legitimacy in our government. For our democracy to be operational and effective two vital political conditions must be met and maintained
The first is political equality. To have an operative democracy each individual must have political equality. This means that every individual, regardless of their possession of intelligence, wealth, beauty, or strength is politically equal, not just before the law, but during elections.
The second is each individual's personal right to define, practice, and defend their own personal religion, secular philosophy, or social identity.
Neither of these conditions is being met in america today. We have neither political equality nor the private right to our own pursuit of happiness. Our democracy has devolved to the point that corporate wealth and public religion are being combined to deny citizens both their democratic rights and their personal identity.
Our initiative only addresses political equality. Once we achieve political equality, we can work on restoring the right to individual identity. And our free press.
Until we restore these basic operating principals of our democracy, our government will continue to be illigitimate. Our elections will continue to be dominated by bribery, and the legislation, law, and policy, not to mention the blood and treasure of our nation will continue to serve those who deliver the biggest bribes to the candidates.
And the corporate media will continue to cheer.
Right on Alex. I think you
Right on Alex.
I think you are right on with addressing the problems facing the American political system today and that the need to end corruption in our government and elections. Personally I do not think that your solutions are not radical enough and what we really need is a complete structural change of the American political system but the initiative is definitly a step in the right direction.
Hey Jason,
Where the heck are you? Feeling Irish?
I believe that the most important issue behind meaningful political change is to find the least common political denomonator that every individual can agree on.
In this case, the least common political denomonator, the thing everyone, independent of their political identity, suffers under is being denied their fundamental right to select their own local candidates and elect representatives who are dependent on, and beholden to, the local voters.
Under our present system of elections, we are assured our candidates are creatures of the corporate interests, and are not dependent on, nor beholden to their local voters.
The goal of this initiative is to remove the intervention of corporate bribery in our elections, rather than shooting for a radical change in the form of government. The initiative seeks to make representatives represent the people, rather than the special interests.
I believe that taking our elections back from the special interests will allow unfettered political access and representation to the majority of our voters who have been effectively disenfranchised by the manipulations of big money in our elections.
In other words, this initiative does not pretend to seek anything but an open, honest political forum where the various factions of the people can come together in our legislature to work out law and policy in an atmosphere free of bribery.
Those social, economic and political changes you speak about would logically flow from a government/legislature honestly elected by the people. First things first!