What’s the first step to fixing America?

Larry Kummer, Editor

13 years ago

Summary: Again we consider solutions, how to reform America. None of the past programs presented here have held up to scrutiny and time. Perhaps this one will. Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.

Contents

Where do we start?
Solutions
For more information
A reminder that it’s always been all about choice

(1) Where do we start?

“Choice. The problem is choice.”
Neo, The Matrix Reloaded

The FM website has many posts discussing ways to reform America, mostly about the operational details. What to do, and when. How to do it. In what sequence, by whom. In the comments are hundreds of valuable insights.

Some posts seek the answer in philosophy or political theory. Do experts in political science and sociology have answers for us about the causes of America’s problems? Can they, like scientists, describe a solution, explaining if and how to implement it? (If so, might these scientists put their superior understanding in the service of its ruling elites, manipulating the America people like lab rats to build a new America?)

All these are beside the point in one important sense. There is only one path to reform for a democracy. The solutions lies beyond theory and beyond science. America will be what we will it to be. Until we have agreement on that, in some broad fashion, we can do little. The problem is choice. Getting many Americans to make that choice will require much work.

Further steps can be taken only when there is a large body of people with a similar viewpoint, and committed to action. What steps to be taken then will depend on the circumstances, and I doubt we today can reliably guess what those will be.

Do we have such a group of people today? The Occupy movement agreed only upon the need for change — which is insufficient for meaningful action other than street theater. But the Tea Party Movement was in many ways a near-perfect nucleus around which a substantial challenge to the ruling elites could have been mounted. Instead they were quickly and easily co-opted, becoming shock troops for the GOP.

Note the warning! Once an organization is built, a major challenges will come from the inside. Betrayal, as leaders are bought by our elites. And (as America’s Moslems have learned) from agents provocateur penetrating and destroying. Construction of The New America is far along; they will not abandon their project without a struggle.

(2) Solutions

“Do, or do not. There is no try.”
— Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

IMO today we are where the Revolution was in the early 1760s. Their response was to form the Committees of Correspondence.

These groups spent a decade laying the political foundation for the revolution. They prepared answers to the vital questions. Why was change needed? Change towards what goal? And they built the basic machinery: organizing, collecting petitions, developing leaders, fund-raising, etc.

We have the same need; perhaps the same solution will work. We have hundreds of groups, dozens of coalitions — mostly special interest groups — and thousands of websites. Today they are either apolitical or focused on influencing the two major parties (on a local, State, or national level). This is similar to the late colonial times. They were able to knit their groups into a larger whole; we should be able to do so as well.

It will take much time and effort. This passage might be set to music as the group’s anthem: “Ulysses” by Lord Alfred Tennyson (1842)

Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

(3) For More Information

For all posts about politics see the FM Reference Page America – how can we stop the quiet coup now in progress?

Posts about solutions, ways to reform America: