Here is a unique, thought-provoking concept worked out by an Unknown News Reader Chris G. who has obviously devoted a great deal of time and thought to how the system could be improved. I would like to also point out that this same reader, each day, forwards useful information he finds not just to me but to several other progressive journalists and web editors. Each of us has, over the months, benefited from Chris's efforts. I would like to salute Chris and our other tireless newshounds for their continuing, sometimes discouraging, and often thankless efforts to help strengthen the public's defenses against the "gathering storm." It is very easy to fire off letters of complaint to others who are engaged in the daily "grunt work" of trying to foment positive change. It is much harder to contribute constructive effort, day in and day out. Instead of just blowing off steam, you newshounds have harnessed your steam and in so doing, are supplying to too often taken-for-granted wind beneath many wings.
THANKYOU !!!!! !!!!! !!!!!
Socialism & Layered Government: A Reader Proposes an Alternative Political Model for the U.S.
By Chris G.
I think the guys at the top are most fearful of Socialism. They have the most to lose, so they scare the "masses" by equating it with Communism, the godless variety of course.
Since no one form of government can serve everyone all the time, why not "layered" Government? The following is a REAL Rough idea of a three-tiered form of government.
At the "bottom" would be Socialism. Basic rights and responsibilities for everyone.
• Would cover those not yet eligible for Democracy, i.e. not 18 or a citizen. Even those who have lost right to vote, i.e. felons.
• This would be the Basic Rights for Clean Air, Clean Water and Safety. (in a Utopia, also basic health-care and nutrition...).
• Infant to 18
Next would be Democracy for those meeting certain requirements, i.e. 18 years of age, High School Diploma, Honorable Military/Police/Fire Service.
• Right to vote, hold office, own property.
• 18 to retirement
At the top, a Republic representing Unions, Lobbies and Special Interests.
• Retirees, Disabled, Vets etc.
• retirement to death
Essentially you would start out in Socialism, "earn" right to Democracy, and finally achieve Republic status.
Each would operate separately:
Socialist would cover areas of:
• childcare
• K-12 schooling (educated to vote, hold a job, live on 'on', serve the public).
• public undergraduate schooling (to include military, police, fire)
• public graduate schooling (teachers, doctors, nurses)
• special care needs
Democracy would cover governments and agencies of:
• Local
• State
• National
Republic would cover areas of:
• Retirement
• Volunteer Help & Care
• From the Republic would also be advisors to the democracy and mentors to the socialist.
Each would be governed separately:
• Socialist would be run by appointees from Democracy and Republic.
• Democracy would be run by majority-elected officials (mayor, governor, congress, president).
• Republic would be run by representatives of their choosing.
Basic Responsibilities of each tier some of which would overlap:
Socialist would be required to:
• obey laws and rules for security, safety and sanitation.
• prepare to enter Democracy
Democracy would be required to:
• pass and enforce laws
• collect taxes
• meet payrolls
• provide safety and security to all
• prepare for retirement.
Republic would be required to:
• be basically self-sufficient
• advise Democracy
• mentor Republic
• prepare for Death.
Of course in a very loose sense we already have this, but since we seem to be heading into a theocracy-plutocracy-oligarchy-dictatorship-WHO KNOWS, maybe we ought to get a handle on it with a more formal structure.?
Chris G.
MAILBAG
Washington Pork: Piled High and Deep on Both Sides of the Aisle
Cheryl,
I read your stuff on Unknown News and I was just wondering, what GLARINGLY obvious connection does GW Bush have to Enron?
Blood Puff
Dear B.P,
Is this a trick question (harhar!)? Kenny Lay is one of the Bush family's best buddies and donated $750,000 to the Bush prez campaign for starters...but I wouldn't be surprised if that was just the iceberg tip....
:>) Cheryl
Cheryl -
No, I was serious. After reading more on the topic though, I have to say I don't favor this connect the dot theories through friendships. You're right about the tip of the iceberg, but I'm not sure if we would agree on the iceberg itself...It isn't that I don't see you're point, but I think there's more than just this that is wrong. I don't think its the Republicans or the Democrats, but instead both parties. This country is totally screwed up, and the truth is,we have been run by a two party system for too long.I appreciate your response though.Using your logic, I could make some high level Democrats looking terrible as well, and that's precisely my point. The higher ups in the government are corrupt together... playing on our minds, keeping us busy with debates that don't matter, so long as they are all fattening their wallets and maintaining their power...
Blood Puff
B.P -
I agree that corporate pork is piled high and deep on both sides of the political aisle and both Dems and Republicans vie for their slabs of bacon. One of the "greasiest set of jowls on Capitol Hill, in fact, belong to Democrat John Brieux of Louisiana, who aided and abetted the raping of Indonesia by Kissinger's Freeport-McMoran Gold Mine, and who is in bed with a long list of oil and chemical companies.
I think the solution is to completely change the pay system for legislators - and that would HAVE to be done by a national referendum, because there are damn few, if any, Congresscritters that would initiate such a change themselves. I say no Congressperson should make ANY MORE money than any other public servant. Why should teachers, police, firefighters, postal workers, IRS workers, and others make $30,000- 40,000 to start (if they are lucky) and work their butts off while the public servants on Capitol Hill pull down six figures TO START, vote themselves regular raises (while capping the salaries of other public servants, actually only work a few months out of every year, have the best medical insurance available (while voting down any effort to improve coverage for everyone else) and then, after just a single term, are entitled to pension benefits? This set up can only be described as a sick joke.
In addition, there should be a national referendum calling for an end to ALL campaign/lobbying dollars. A whopping 80% of the American public has repeatedly said they want sweeping campaign finance reform, yet our Congressional porkers have refused to do anything more than pass a gutted, weak bill that merely inspires lobbyists to get more creative in their quest for loopholes. There should be a single national campaign expense fund and each Congresscritter should be entitled to the same amount every time - NO MORE. Anyone caught accepting any dollars from lobbyists or any other source outside the public campaign fund or their own salaries should (if I could write the script, anyway) be removed immediately from office in disgrace, the keys to the Capitol restrooms confiscated and the buttons of their powersuits slashed off in a public ceremony, ala Broken Arrow).
Under this system, you can bet the phony Bush Ranch that only people truly interested in public service for the sake of the public would apply.
Reader Writes to Bush, Blasts "Armageddon" Mentality of Administration
Hi Cheryl:
Interesting that you bring up this angle. Several months ago, I wrote Bush a letter telling him that I didn't care whether he thinks I am against him. I pointed out that the Nazis killed my family in Europe, and I am not going along to get along.
And then I said that if he thinks that what he is bringing on is Armageddon so that he can have his rapture, he is delusional and that he and all his friends will suffer along with the rest of us. Actually that's not quite true. I practice Zen meditation, and there are Zen stories about how to avoid suffering when the whole world burns up. So I will escape.
Just kidding. The reality is that our country has been in sociopathic mode ever since its genocide of the original inhabitants.
It is really hard to see where this is all going.
One particular nightmare I have is that the stock market completely crashes, taking us into an Argentina type or Great Depression economic collapse. Roosevelt took over and was almost overthrown in a coup. It was stopped by one heroic military man, Smedley Butler, who refused to do the dirty deed and instead blew the whistle. But nowadays, the military IS the problem, so a fascist takeover, complete with Gestapo Homeland Security in place, numerous prisons available, etc, means a lot of numbed out people are going to have to get educated REALLY FAST, if the momentum towards total collapse of democracy in America is to be averted.
While many in my circle are agreed in their distaste for Bush, most people are still pretty clueless. Just my observations.
Thanks for writing your rants.
Eric Arnow
© 2002, Cheryl Seal
Cheryl may be contacted at cherylseal@hotmail.com.
