Are we simply stuck with politics as usual, or can we change?

[dfgrbac]

I continually see many complaints about how government fails to function on behalf of the people. There is no doubt that the general population is not very happy. It's no wonder that the GOP and their "Tea Party" hijackers make headway talking about reducing or eliminating government. Fortunately though, I still believe most Americans actually think the government is theirs and that it can work for us again if only we elect the right people. So politics as usual continues to be used as the means to change. But, things are not changing. After more than 200 years we should be able to see this strong built-in tendency towards corruption in the people's government.

The government is meant to be of, by, and for the people. But something seriously important was left out of the Constitution although Founding Fathers expressed their fear of it. And that is the corrupting influence of money and the resulting power it grants. The average citizen cannot compete with this resulting in laws that are not "of the people".

As a citizen of the United States, what do you consider to be your responsibilities to assure the government works for the common good? Do you believe the corporate good is the same thing? Is the economic model for free-market capitalism sustainable?

[mmonk]

1. Only a movement can get us out of this.

Silence and voting, especially with all the gerrymandered states, is an exercise in futility. When people here wake up, let me know.

[Maedhros]

4. I've been repeatedly assured that all we need to do to change everything

is to keep voting for people who don't want to change anything.

[Vincardog]

2. The current economic model for Crony capitalism is not sustainable.

In fact is in immediate danger of collapsing the entire world economic system.

Unfortunately the Banksters who need to be eliminated from they system control it.

[dfgrbac]

6. I agree about the banksters!

So, what is the solution. Please note that the purpose of my post is to question whether we can change our politics such that continued positive and progressive change will be the norm and be permanent.

[Vincardog]

7. Get the money out of politics. #1 elect a Congress that will restrain

the run away Supreme Court and forbid it to interfere with Laws passed regarding money and politics.
#2 Pass a law that Corporations are not people and are not entitled to HUMAN rights, make this law beyond the purview of the SCOTUS.
#3 Pass a law that publicly finances elections, make it illegal to spend money to influence elected officials.
#4 Make the SCOTUS Judges be bound by the same ethics rules that apply to any other Federal Judge (If they violate the ethics rules they are removed from office and jailed).
#5 Pass a law that any electronic means of vote counting be TRANSPARENT and verified by a random hand count of 20% of the votes it counts.

That is a start

[dfgrbac]

9. Politics as usual is failing.

This solution is stated every time congressional elections come up. Unfortunately, it does not work because voters still go with the strongest propaganda ads they see in the corporate media. And we get another do nothing congress.

Check out the comments about constitutional conventions below.

[truedelphi]

3. The Community Rights movement is one solution

Unfortunately it requires a lot of participation. And it tackles one issue at a time, community by community.

Already some 150 communities have used the Community Rights movement to bring about a needed change in their situation, or else a protection for how things are and should remian.

In Pittsburgh PA, Community Rights organizers put an initiative on the ballot that banned the three proposed fracking wells that would have come in and more than likely decimated the city water supply. Other fracking attempts in the future are also nixed by this legally adopted proposal.

Also in PA, a mostly Republican Community Rights group banned a 14,000 industrial pig farm from coming into their community.

Here in Lake County Calif., we are putting "The Right to Grow" on the ballot and it will be just that. No longer will some Federal Agent or state agent be able to hassle some organic farmer, telling them that they have to keep wildlife off their property. (As has been the case in other areas of California.)

If the measure passes, if you have the right to be on a piece of property, and you have some seeds, it is your right to grow those seeds.

Here is one link to finding out more about this movement:

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2013-12-18/a-new-movement-for-community-self-determination-over-corporate-rights

You can also google Paul Cienfuegos, and "community rights" to find out evenmore.

[dfgrbac]

8. Revising constitutions could be a permanent solution. Looks good.

Thanks for the interesting link; there seems to be a lot of interesting stuff to digest.

I strongly believe changing constitutions to permanently codify political power for the people is the way to go. Making this happen gives the average dissatisfied citizen a goal to work towards. It seems several active groups both left and right are beginning to see the need for constitutional conventions and are increasing pressure not only for state, but also for a national convention. I look at this as very positive and great news!

As a senior citizen I cannot encourage young people strongly enough to get involved in these changes. My young friends, your future depends on this. Don't take a lackadaisical view of politics as my generation has done! Now is the time for your impact to change how the world society functions. Violence and protests result in little change if anything. Digging in and changing the rules peacefully is the answer. Join the organizations working to make this happen.

[truedelphi]

11. In both California and Oregon, the state Constitutions are all about people power.

Yet here's the problem: the state legislatures and local entities continually take away our rights by passing laws that should not be passed.

And few individuals have the monetary resources to challenge some legal action taken against themselves. Also, finding a truly aware "Constitutional " lawyer is very difficult.

One of the things about any legal provisions enacted inside a community is that the entity that wanted to stifle the situation has to come into that particular county and basically make the legal announcement that they do not care for the US Constitution, or the state Constitution either. Talk about bad press.

Most corporations do not want any headlines pointing that fact out.

Which is why, for instance, the anti-industrialized pig farming community in PA was able to dissuade the industrialized pig farmer from coming into their community.

[jwirr]

5. When you look at how deep the attitudes in MO are and how long they have been buried then I can

see why you are asking this question. We thought we had some of it fixed in the 70s. Now I wonder if we were just deluded.

I also think that change is going to scare many of us because it has already tipped way too far to the right. If we are leaning fascist some of the factors we face such as climate change are going to lead to some really dangerous times that have nothing to do with the climate. These fascists are not going to want to change and they have very few morals when it comes to keeping things their way.

[Matrosov]

10. Of course government is ineffective..

..when the GOP and TP block any and all efforts by the Democrats.

It's like the tires on the right side of the car trying to slash the ones on the left and then claiming the car is no good because it can't drive anywhere.