The Pan Is On The Stove
The pan is on
the stove and has been there a very long time, millennia after millennia, and
the cooks are many, stirring up many stews with many ingredients–some good and some
bad. There are the constructive ingredients of hard work, motivation, drive,
ambition, and the selfless desires of honesty, integrity and trust to do good and
serve one’s fellow-man. Sadly, there are the other ingredients, those that
destroy our people, and those that destroy our environment–greed, avarice, and
evil.
Aristotle (384 –
322 B. C), that great
master of political science, is quoted as having said, “From the hour of their
birth, some are marked out for subjection, others for rule (Politics, 1.5.2, 1254a). He also wrote, “The
art of war is a natural art of acquisition for it includes hunting, an art
which we ought to practice against wild beasts and against men who, though
intended by nature to be governed, will not submit; for war of such a kind is
naturally just” (Politics, 1.8.12, 1256b).
Now I don’t
pretend to the possession of wisdom equal to that of Aristotle; but, somehow,
his thought just doesn’t go down right with me. I believe men should be governed.
I believe in freedom; but, in a free society, one in which one person’s freedom
overlaps that of another (especially one with a congested population),
government is sorely needed. On the other hand, however, I don’t believe in a
war in which one government forces its governance upon another or steals the
other’s resources. It would seem to me that the real question is: who will
determine the government–who is to govern? War is not the answer.
For as long as
man has been in the picture, there has always been someone with a theory as to
how things should be done; but, there has been none better than that laid down
by God and his Son, Jesus. Believe what you will, but I have neither seen nor
heard any better, whether it be from Plato, Socrates, or whomever (Relax. This
is not going to be a sermon; I’m not qualified).
Back to the pan
on the stove and the cooks cooking the stew, people have been arguing government
for centuries. Our founding fathers studied this thoroughly, hardly missing an
angle or eventuality. Any student of political science knows the pitfalls of
pure democracy in which the majority, the working class, govern; wherein the
will of the majority oppresses the minority. This was a key concern of our
founding fathers. That the common classes lacked the qualifications to deal
with the vast complexities of public financing, foreign affairs, and management
was, also, a major concern. This is why our Constitution includes many checks,
balances, and protections for the minorities. This is why we have a democratic
republic and not a pure democracy.
Herein lies the
problem. Please note that I have my tongue in my check when I say this; but,
normally, when one looks into the future, they still see it through the colored
lens of their present knowledge and experience. They can’t help themselves. Our
forefathers, I believe, didn’t see the complexities of our current world. They
didn’t see the immense and rising increase in technology, communications, the
internet, warfare, atomic energy, almost instant travel, and the increasing
size of our populations and their requisite needs. What they did know is that
they had their bellies full of kings, queens, dictators, tyrants, and those of
that nature. I might add that we, today, feel that way, too–but I digress.
I have been
trying to tell you over these past months, our world is on fire. We are in dire
straits, economically as well as politically. We have been talking government, i.e.
politics–essentially the same thing. We must, also, talk economics. Both
subjects are so intertwined, we can’t discuss one without the other. Really! It’s
true. Not only is the economy of the United States in severe difficulty; but,
so also, are the economies of the rest of the world. The differences in our
societies, our governments, and our economies notwithstanding, we are all
intertwined. We must all work together. For now, I’m not going to talk further
about foreign governments and politics. Such is beyond the knowledge available
to me, but I do need for you to understand that their problems affect us as
well.
As crazy as this
may sound, I submit to you that we must find a way to take politics out of the
picture. It is long past time for us to take care of business. I believe our
politics are corrupt, dishonest, and completely broken. Our leaders have sold
out the leadership of our country, and we must change our Constitution to bring
it up to date–to current times. I surely don’t have all the answers to our dilemma
and don’t pretend such, but there are many who have some of the answers. If we can
all put our heads together, we can turn this thing around. Anybody who has ever
been employed by a large and successful corporation knows that we need managerial skills, not politics, to run our country. I have already given you some of
my ideas in past postings to this blog, so I won’t repeat myself just now, but
it should be a no-brainer to all that we must take back our country from those
who have stolen our livelihoods and our wealth from us and are continuing to do
so as this is written. We must do it now.
In closing, I
will tell you five actions we need to take immediately, if not sooner; and we
should do them in a manner that they will last in the United States of America
for as long as God allows the world to continue to exist. These are inalienable
rights and should be incorporated in our Constitution.
1. We
need to provide our people with jobs with livable wages.
2. We
must establish Social Security for all on a “pay as you go” basis with livable
benefits. This should be administered
through the use of a stand-alone fund as is now done and must not be privatized
in any way. This should be updated now and financed through an ear-marked tax
transparent to all.
3. We
must establish a national single-payer, cradle to the grave, “pay as you go” national
healthcare system for all, modeled after Medicare, and administered through the
use of a stand-alone fund as is now done with Social Security. This too must
not be privatized in any way and financed on a “pay as you go” basis (no
deficit) Medicaid and Affordable Health Care must be eliminated. AHC is (and it
will get worse–mark my words) unaffordable. The middle class can’t understand
or afford it. Haven’t you heard? They haven’t had a real wage increase in over
thirty years. Many have lost their homes and their livelihoods. Where are they going to get the money?
4. We
must take the money out of politics, financing elections through taxation. No
politician should be allowed to receive contributions in any way shape or
form–even from friends or family under penalty of imprisonment. Again, we must
take back our country.
5. We
must amend our Constitution overriding the Supreme Court decision in Citizens
United v. FEC (Federal Election Commission). I can’t believe anyone, supposedly
distinguished, as one who would serve on the our Supreme Court, would be
that ignorant (or disingenuous). God made people–man didn’t.
These are only
five suggestions. I have more. If Grover Norquist can get Congress, contrary to
the interests of the people and this nation, to pledge not to raise taxes
(without even checking with you first), then you should be able to raise enough
fuss with your illustrious representatives (including Senators) to get them to
support my proposals. Haven’t we been told this is a government of the people,
by the people, and for the people? Isn’t it time somebody begins to work for
us?
Before closing
this, I want to make one last point. There are those who will yell Socialism or
Communism. We must love them anyway. They know not what they say. I know as
sure as God made little green apples that I am neither a Socialist nor a
Communist. What I do believe, however, is this. I don’t care whether a cat is
white or black. I want a cat that catches mice; and, it is time–way past
time–that our government quits all their very expensive masturbating with our government and our lives, and starts
managing the affairs of our country. They (We) need to start catching mice.
Ronald Miller
mtss86@comcast.net
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