NOTE: This piece was originally written some 7 years ago. I am now in the process of choosing several pieces which will go into a compendium for possible publishing. That means I am reading anew most of those written along the way and, in reading this one, it hit me how it is that time passes on, but the apparent futility of the human mind (when it truly wants to be futile) does not change. What do you think?
Everyone wants a little piece of the pie, and everyone wants to have their 5 minutes of fame…
We live in a country that was founded on very basic principles. There would be no royalty, no feuds. A duly elected government where all would be equally represented. Everyone would have the same possibilities and each individual would have the opportunity to pursue those very possibilities, according to his/her capabilities.
That was some two hundred years ago. The world has changed since then. It has become much more complicated, faster, smaller in a way. We now know what happens on the other side of the world as it actually happens. Whether we want to, or not.
We have grown, mostly along with the rest of the world. Scores of nations have come and gone -and some come again- in that time, but we persevere. We are here. A little bigger around the waist and perhaps with less hair than years ago when it was customary to wear a wig. As we grew, along the way we also learned to speak “with forked tongue” when needed, putting truth and transparency to the side in the process. We have become full of contradictions and of issues which beg to be resolved. But we are beginning to lack the courage, or the interest, to do so.
Our Democracy needs to be revamped, rethought and kicked in the rear so it can get going again…
·
We need to be able to
know in full what goes on in the hallowed halls of Congress and the Presidency…
we pay the bills.
·
We should be able to
access information which is often censured and/or “for somebody’s eyes only”
but which impacts us…
·
We should be able to
vote directly and not through committees…
·
Tax reform –a real one–
is needed. We should all pay a personal/corporate reasonable flat tax, with
minimum exemptions and deductions.
·
Our government types
should be paid based on results, not promises. This, like any position, has
responsibilities and should be accountable.
·
We should be able to read,
learn and to express our thoughts about issues freely and truly… especially the "freely" part…
·
Church is a state of
mind. Each one of us chooses to believe where we feel comfort and love –or not-
and others should accept this… and vice versa…
·
Fanatics should only be
found at concerts and sport venues, not on the streets or newspapers telling me
what I should do or think.
·
Each one of us should be
able to receive according to our capacity to work, knowledge, and efforts.
·
Those who need –not
those who want- should be able to receive help to satisfy their needs and get
to the point of not needing.
·
We should all be able to
have access to decent education; passing grades should not be given based on
demographic needs, but on actual results. Education should improve the mind,
not sink it into mediocrity.
· Government sets the laws of the land; those in government should be held responsible for respecting and working with, and within, the scope of the very laws they propose and pass. Especially when some of these laws passed are not always in agreement with those citizens who voted them in.
Utopian? Maybe… and then again, maybe not. Our seams are
bursting at the edges, and we insist on continuing to burden society with more
and more of the things that should not be a burden. How long can this nation
and its structure take this abuse? I don’t know. I hope we don’t get to
actually find out.
This human and political experiment we have come to know as the USA is still a beautiful example of what can be, when the people take a hand in shaping it; when the political types take a bit of time and pay attention to what it is those who elected them do want. It is a work in progress; I think we have strayed from the road our founding fathers meant us to take, but it is not too late yet to retake it and mend the mistakes.
Be Well, Be Back.
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