There seems to be support for change in the United States.
Citizens and international bystanders alike are expressing the desire to see the US conform more to the ideals of process, rather than product, which it promotes.
But what would that take? It certainly would not be easy, as it can be guaranteed to be quite complex. Public opinion within the US will swing wildly, particularly if called upon to sacrifice anything.
Where does one start?
I personally would like to see the US step back from it's desire to shape the world to its will. I believe that "self-determination" is what should guide our foreign affairs. The US should stay the hell out of the internal politics of other nations and peoples. That said, there are appropriate times for the intercession of external parties to domestic squabbles. This is where we should be actively supporting the intercession of international mediators through the UN. This is where the US should support and extend the ideals of international law and subject itself, as a nation, to the very international laws which it had such a large part in forming.
We need to change not only our specific leadership, but our entire attitude in regards the rest of the world outside our borders.
We need to tend to business at home, rather than expending what resources we have killing people overseas.
We need to redirect our economic interests to sustaining and positive ends, rather than the destruction of our fellow humans.
I see a partial answer in the reduction of our armed forces to a true "defensive" military. I see conscription of a partially prepared military organization, supported through a permanent officer corps and 100% public service of three years required of all citizens 18-30, and 100% reserve status until age 50 of all citizens. Public service need not be military, but a goodly portion of public service should be directed toward the maintenance of an active militia, including ongoing training for reserves.
Corporations must be reigned in. This, I think, will require a reinterpretation of constitutional law at the Supreme Court level. I see little hope here. We need to disconnect legislative activity from the interests of private corporations. We currently have the best governance that money can buy. This needs, somehow, to change.
I've long suspected that a constitutional convention would be a vehicle for the monied powers to manipulate the result to their liking. But the way the slippage of power from the legislative branch to the executive branch has been seemingly inexorable over the past 50 years, I'm beginning to think that a drastic step like a constitutional convention may be required.
My SO keeps trying to discourage me from even discussing national politics. She keeps pointing to the needed changes at a very local level. She has a specific plan to reallocate control of city budgets by actually allowing the discretionary portion of city budgets to be allocated by neighorhood associations. To bring actual fiscal control down to the level closest to those being served. In one sense, I agree. But, I've seen neighborhood level politics at its worst. It's no better than what happens at higher levels of governance. We are a disputatious people, and for some it is a hobby.
The question really becomes one of what can each and every one of us really do to effect change? Positive change? Concrete incremental steps to positive change.
I see a partial answer in the reduction of our armed forces to a true "defensive" military. I see conscription of a partially prepared military organization, supported through a permanent officer corps and 100% public service of three years required of all citizens 18-30, and 100% reserve status until age 50 of all citizens. Public service need not be military, but a goodly portion of public service should be directed toward the maintenance of an active militia, including ongoing training for reserves.
But I'll keep having erections in the shower and destroy unit morale!
What CAN we do?
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