Can The People Themselves Restore Constitutional Government? (Chalmers Johnson)

[kpete]

Empire v. Democracy
Why Nemesis Is at Our Door
By Chalmers Johnson

.............

The American political system failed to prevent this combination from developing -- and may now be incapable of correcting it. The evidence strongly suggests that the legislative and judicial branches of our government have become so servile in the presence of the imperial Presidency that they have largely lost the ability to respond in a principled and independent manner. Even in the present moment of congressional stirring, there seems to be a deep sense of helplessness. Various members of Congress have already attempted to explain how the one clear power they retain -- to cut off funds for a disastrous program -- is not one they are currently prepared to use.

So the question becomes, if not Congress, could the people themselves restore Constitutional government? A grass-roots movement to abolish secret government, to bring the CIA and other illegal spying operations and private armies out of the closet of imperial power and into the light, to break the hold of the military-industrial complex, and to establish genuine public financing of elections may be at least theoretically conceivable. But given the conglomerate control of our mass media and the difficulties of mobilizing our large and diverse population, such an opting for popular democracy, as we remember it from our past, seems unlikely.

..................

So my own hope is that -- if the American people do not find a way to choose democracy over empire -- at least our imperial venture will end not with a nuclear bang but a financial whimper. From the present vantage point, it certainly seems a daunting challenge for any President (or Congress) from either party even to begin the task of dismantling the military-industrial complex, ending the pall of "national security" secrecy and the "black budgets" that make public oversight of what our government does impossible, and bringing the president's secret army, the CIA, under democratic control. It's evident that Nemesis -- in Greek mythology the goddess of vengeance, the punisher of hubris and arrogance -- is already a visitor in our country, simply biding her time before she makes her presence known.

...................

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/17952

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. Most certainly, yes.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. -- The Declaration of Independence

We've done it before; we can do it again.

[CrispyQ]

3. But will we?

Or will we be too busy watching American Idol?

I think too many of us are still not uncomfortable enough yet to make a stand. And too many are still way too comfortable to even notice.

[kpete]

4. WE - you and I and many more...

are way too UNCOMFORTABLE to NOT notice!!!

Peace to you CrispyQGirl

[CrispyQ]

7. But are we enough?

I work with social liberals -- they are pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, pro-separation of church & state. Economically, however, they are very well off & they are entrenched in the status quo. They & their spouses have been making six figures for many, many years & they are extremely comfortable & they are not going to rock the boat.

Yesterday's story about Bush's directive to gain greater control over the rules and policy statements has me so depressed. Every day is another outrage & yet no one I know outside of DU gives a shit.

Sorry to be so downhead. It's snowing again in Colorado & I am so sick of snow & cold. x( Such an unusual winter. I don't know how people up north deal with it. Snow, cold, grey. Arghhh!!

A nice cup of hot cocoa might cheer me up. ;)

:hi:

[TahitiNut]

8. Until millions are not just willing but driven to mobilize and engage in ...

... non-violent civil disobedience, clearly foreseeing that it will provoke the police state to use deadly force, and willingly leaving hundreds of OUR bleeding bodies in the streets and even on the lawn of the White House, the corruption and Imperial State will only get worse. The 'PRICE' will only get bigger, each and every day. I'm actually glad I won't be alive 20 years from now.

[omega minimo]

21. ... and why did the Boomers allow the police state to establish itself?

:popcorn:

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. That is the question, isn't it? n/t

[bdamomma]

13. our bellies are too full, once we loose our toys and/or food

we will fight back.

[The2ndWheel]

14. Funny thing about those founding fathers

They had to cross an ocean to get to an entirely different continent before they could do it. Plus they had to kill whoever was already here to get the land to be able to do it.

We can't do either one anymore. Darn.

[Selatius]

2. The government will never allow the people to do this in its current oligarchic state.

Otherwise, it loses its monopoly on power. There can only be one power dominating the land, not two. No, the government is not necessarily the people. It is foolish to assert it is.

The only way to do this directly is through a constitutional convention.

[Parisle]

6. Maybe not,....

--- Action at the state level may also be effected through the amendment process. It would take some organizing among the states,... but no more than would a convention. Three-quarters of the state legislatures agreeing that there will be no signing statements, and that habeas corpus rights do, in fact, exist,... would seem to be an easy thing to accomplish. But the "Anti-Bush Amendment" needs to be written by someone and rushed into consideration quickly.

[Peace Patriot]

9. 1. Transparent elections.

1. Transparent elections.
2. Grass roots organization.
3. Think big.

It's happening in South America. And, if the South Americans can do it, after decades and centuries of brutal oppression and exploitation, so can we.

Venezuela.
Bolivia.
Ecuador.
Argentina.
Brazil.
Chile.
Uruguay.
Nicaragua.
And soon, Peru, Paraguay, Mexico.

All have elected leftist (majorityist) governments or have strong leftist movements (the latter three) that will likely win in the next election cycle.

Key policies of all: Social justice. Self-determination. Labor rights. Indigenous rights. A nation's resources should benefit its people. Wide/deep citizen participation in government. Regional cooperation. Anti-US/Corporate/World Bank/IMF. (And, although these governments tend to take the Catholic Church view on abortion, they are otherwise strong on women's rights--for instance, Chile elected its first woman president, socialist Michele Batchelet, Ecuador has a female Minister of Defense under leftist president Rafael Correa, and the leftist candidate for president of Paraguay--a former Catholic bishop--has specified that he wants a woman as a running mate).

Don't look now, but a huge portion of the Western Hemisphere has gone leftist and democratic--it is a tidal wave. As Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of Bolivia has said: "The time of the people has come."

Viva la revolución!


----------------------------

(For info on the Bolivarian revolution, a good place to start is: www.venezuelanalysis.com. Simon Bolivar is the great revolutionary hero, who led the fight for independence from Spain, who freed the slaves, and who dreamt of a "United States of South America." South American countries have now begun talks on a South American "Common Market" and a common currency.)

[omega minimo]

10. and will people learn to NOT LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN?

:kick: :kick:

[bdamomma]

15. never say never, it could happen here and it did. We

are to compliant.

[omega minimo]

16. "compliant" is too kind a word.

[bdamomma]

17. I don't want to mention what some say about us Americans.

Weak and gutless.

[omega minimo]

19. that implies being conscious of what's going on..................

[The2ndWheel]

18. But if we all got up one morning

and didn't go to work, or go shopping, or whatever else keeps the machine churning, we wouldn't have any money, and no food, and no health care, and no energy to get us from here to there. Not to mention the children. What about the children?

We're not too compliant. We're too dependent on the very institutions that we would be doing something against.

[omega minimo]

20. That's why your choices are important and you decide what to support or "depend" on

and what part you play in the "machine churning."

[KoKo]

11. Hopefully C-Span will have him on to talk about his book.

They had him on when "Sorrows of Empire," was published and he was fascinating.

[YankeyMCC]

12. Really that's the only way to restore it all but

it wont be easy to be sure.