First, a quick review of civics. I was taught in school that "The United States is the world's oldest surviving federation. It is a constitutional republic [...whose leaders are chossen by...] representative democracy, "in which majority rule is tempered by minority rights protected by law.""
The United States Government
- A federation of states
- The law is defined in the Constitution which can only be amended by the will of the people.
- A republic where the leaders are responsible to the people
- The leaders are elected democratically
- Majority "rules", but people's rights are protected
- It has a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one part of the government dominates to the detriment of the people (executive, bicameral legislature, and judicial branches - so for all intents and purposes, four (4), not three branches of the govenment)
"Republic" is not the antithesis of "democrat". It is the combination of the two that makes this country great.
So, what is all this codswallop about Republicans versus Democrats? Certainly, there needs to be different of opinions to keep our country fresh and alive. Our government, to keep our values, is difficult to run. But shouldn't it be based on cooperation rather than obstructionism?
A lot of people are saying that it is time for hard changes. What direction should we go?
Maybe its time to think differently? Green, and its platform for example,
- Grassroots democracy
- Social justice and equal opportunity
- Ecological wisdom
- Non-violence
- Decentralization
- Community-based economics and economic justice
- Feminism and gender equality
- Respect for diversity
- Personal and global responsibility
- Future focus on sustainability
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