Redeeming America By T.S. Khanna, July 17, 2011

Foundation for Better Government

(www.bettergovt.blogspot.com)

July 17, 2011.

Redeeming America

By T.S. Khanna, July 17, 2011.

“If wealth is lost, nothing is lost; if health is lost, something is lost; if character is lost, everything is lost.”

Character is the values one lives by. Freedom for all values makes the society value-free or characterless. In the name of freedom and equality, we are losing the very values (Jude o-Christian values) that built this great country.Our justice system enforces moral equivalency between the best of cultural values and the worst of human nature, under the principle of "blind justice", destroying the best of human values.

Some quicksteps are suggested to redeem America, if we can overcome the constitutional hurdles.

Historically, political systems have been formulated and adopted in the periods of crisis. Thereafter, no significant change occurs until the next crisis. The change in a political system is usually the offspring of revolution.

Successful political revolutionaries are noted not for any originality in political thought but for the force with which they expounded their doctrines, appealing to the prevailing zeitgeist with great public mental intensity of the time.

The principles, doctrines, and the constitutions adopted under the passion of the time are regarded as the eternal truths. They do not carry any provisions for periodic testing and reviews for their efficacy. Nor do they permit necessary adjustments to meet new challenges of the changing times.

With the advancing human knowledge and experience, some eternal truths of yesterday turn out to be misconceptions. Nevertheless, corresponding changes in the constitutions

cannot be affected easily because of the self imposed constraints of the “eternal truths” of yesterday.

Finally, there comes a time when the adopted principles and practices are no longer adequate and their continued application may even be harmful to the very society they built. At this stage, more and more people get dissatisfied with government.

This is the stage for paradigm shift that is not easily possible. The weight of reverence to the adopted constitution, set traditions, axiomatic truths, established institutions, and stakes do not permit the paradigm shift necessary to cope up with new challenges and evolving crisis.

Such crisis initiates a self-propelling cycle of cause and effect adversely affecting the public trust in government and its ability to cope with the crisis. A prolonged crisis then matures into revolution.

Historians indicate that the average time span between revolutions within civilizations is 225-250 years. This time span is considered the life of a civilization.

Revolutions end and settle with high hopes adopting a system operating under a new order of principles and constitution. Again, the new “eternal truths” prevent any provision for periodic testing and corresponding change, even if revolutions may be preventable by doing so.

Since democratic government is “of the people, by the people, for the people” there is, supposedly, no reason for revolution. However, observations indicate that (a) there is a consistent gap between the assumptions in democratic theory and realities of system operations, and, (b) some democratic ideals based on wishful and outdated knowledge of human nature are themselves disputable.

Neither the citizens, nor the politicians have proven equal to the expectations under democratic assumptions. In addition, democratic systems are now loaded with a growing burden of increasing difference between progressive scientific knowledge and sanctified religious ignorance. Increase in the number of ignorant people with equal rights is much faster than the other type. Democratic systems are also not prepared for the unforeseen challenges of advancing technology.

It is apparent that the present system of government in the USA is not sustainable. Some quickstep changes are suggested for consideration. Can we overcome constitutional hurdles?

1. Create Jobs (bring back the outsourced jobs) by competing in taxes, wages, and quality of products in the world market.
2. Abolish the Senate. It is a duplication of representation with an unfair inequality. It slows down the decision process of Congress without enhancing the quality of decisions.
3. Operate with unicameral Congress with a 6-year term for congress members. To enhance the performance quality and prestige of the congress, adopt strict prerequisites for qualifying candidates.
4. Make Congress Independent of the Supreme Court’s Judicial Review Process. Congress represents the sovereignty of the people. It may retain full authority to interpret the Constitution. Supreme Court has usurped this power of Congress by convention, not by the Constitution. The "blind Justice" interpretation of freedom and equality has been destroying some of the cherished human values.
   
5. Establish a non-partisan Supreme Council. Representative democracy with a two-party system has become a highly divisive force tearing the nation apart. The system designed for checks and balances is causing gridlocks and deadlocks in congress. As a counter force to streamline congress operations and support national unity, a 15-member non-partisan Supreme Council may be elected by the congress. It may have all the responsibilities and powers of the Senate. In addition, President’s powers to approve or to veto congress enactments may be transferred to the Supreme Council.
6. Constitute an Agency for Research and Development in Political Affairs directly answerable to the proposed Supreme Council. Functions of the Agency may include, but not limited to;
• Identification and definition of national interests, so that policies and system operations at all levels are supportive of the national interests,
• Identification of the weaknesses of the system operations and propose remedial measures to overcome the new challenges of the changing times.
• Refine democratic philosophy and propose system improvements to meet the foreseeable upcoming challenges,
• Evaluate performance of various elected bodies, offices, agencies, and departments,
• Evaluate policy alternatives and to advise the congress through the proposed Supreme Council,
• Feed the proposed Supreme Council and the Congress for constitutional amendments (including the procedure for amendment).