During my daily cruising of the internet, I came across this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cTUH_zYsu1o
At first, I found it hilarious - two pompous idiots telling each other to shut up, with a third guy trying to calm them down. Sound familiar? (read, political debates here.) But, the more I thought about it, the more I was, well, pissed off that it happened like that. Here was one guy telling another guy that he was better than him and that he better shut up and listen, while the other guy was spouting what most of America has been saying this year - "Hey, I pay your enormous, ridiculous salary, you're supposed to be working for me, so YOU shut up!"
Over the past couple of years (OK, some might say the past couple of decades) I've given thought to political aspirations, only to change my mind, especially when I see some despot politician let America down once again, or see another "unanimous" vote for a congressional pay raise. (Don't you wish you could just vote for a pay raise anytime you felt the need?) In my mind, America is STILL the best thing offered in the way of freedoms and government in the world, and I support her 100%, but lately, I feel our population of politicians have been failing us as of late. It's quite obvious that I'm not the only one thinking this about America either, as evidence by the protests and such this year.
When it comes to politics, my basic philosophy keeps coming back to the one thing that sets us apart from the rest of the world - that has made it possible for OTHER countries to rise up and take control of their own destinies....the Declaration of Independence. Sure, it was written by a bunch of white, wealthy older men for a bunch of white, wealthy, slave holding men - but it's punch isn't in who is was written for, but what was actually said in the very first part of the document.
I truly believe that if someone is elected to congress, or voted in as president, or in any political office for that matter, they should be FORCED to take a refresher Civics course on what America really is and how our politics should stand for. As a teacher, this is what I see the lesson plan being...oh, and forgive me for being a bit elementary - I am a second grade teacher, after all!
Teacher: Are you paying attention, politicians? Class? Now, this is the Declaration of Independence. Say it together....
All together: Declaration of Independence.
Teacher: Good! Today, we're going to focus on the second paragraph of this document. We're gonna skip over the first paragraph for now, because it's basically saying that at the time, the colonies decided it was time to step up and take their place in the world as a separate country and break the link they had with England. We'll study that later, though.
Let's look at the SECOND paragraph. No, the second paragraph. There you go. I'll wait for EVERYONE to find it. Ok, good job.
Now, you've worked very hard and earned your position and THIS is the part that pertains to you KEEPING YOUR JOB and realizing you aren't royalty. Let's look at this sentence, which has been called the most powerful sentence ever written by any human in history...
(Reads first sentence aloud) "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
What does this sentence mean to you? (Pause for responses).
Ok, any more?
Good! Are there any questions so far? Ok, Senator?
Senator: Why is this call the most powerful sentence? It's just a bunch of mumbly words...
Teacher: Good question! Why is it the most powerful sentence? Well, a lot of countries and people around the world look at it and say that this clearly states that as a human being, you and I have the right to live our lives how we feel free to live them. It gives rights to people who have never had them before, who have been oppressed and denied basic things in their lives, and it's what sets up our system of government - that as humans, we have RIGHTS that cannot be taken away from us by another human being, no matter who that human being is. It's our country's moral compass, so to speak.
You don't understand the language? Ok, try this. In people speak, for those of us who aren't all flowery in our speech - "Dude, look, you aren't better than me, I'm not better than you - we all have the right to live, to freely carve our own path in life with out anyone telling us we can or can't do it and try to be happy while doing so." Does this make sense you you?
Senator: Yes, it does now.
Teacher: Good! Ok, let's look at the second sentence. "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" Does anyone know what that might mean? Yes, Mr. President?
President: That our government was made by ordinary people and we have their permission to be their politicians!
Teacher: Correct! I can see why you were elected! That the government is supposed to be set up by regular men and they only get to keep their power so long as regular men say so. And how do we regular men and women say so? Senator?
Senator: In letters? Oh! I know - by voting!
Teacher: That's correct! You can write letters, but the best way is by voting! We'll get back to this later. Let's look at the next sentence...
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Ok, what does this sentence say? Well, in normal, PEOPLE speak, it says, "Look, if you guys don't do your job, if you don't work for the people and do whats best for US and the United States as a whole, then the people - the NORMAL everyday people like me, your Aunt Sally, your cousin Bridget, all of us - get to say, 'uh uh, nope - you need to fix it or else." Or else what? You get replaced! Yup, that's right! We were given the RIGHT to get rid of our government and replace it with one that works better - it's written right there in the Declaration of Independence itself! And you don't get a say in it! So you HAVE to do your job or you get canned, period.
President: So the regular people can just overthrow the government just because we don't like it?
Teacher: No, we don't just get to overthrow the government. There actually has to be a reason for it - see, look at the next sentence:
"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
This is saying that if what the people feel the government is doing isn't in OUR best interest, like if they are doing things to make it better for themselves or their friends or the wealthy or whoever, after a lot of debate, discussions, protests and whatnot, THEN if nothing is done to fix it and make it better, that's when we get to change it ourselves. How do we change it?
Well, there's a couple of ways - the easiest is to vote. Every few years, we have elections where we get to pick who we want based on who will work for us the best. Yes, you're right. Lately, they all seem to be the same person with a different skin - maybe we're just waiting for the right group of people to stand up? I don't know. That's up to the people, though, isn't it?
Senator: Ok, I don't like that way - what's the other way to do it?
Teacher: What's the other way? Oh, we don't want to go that way. Ok, well, the second way is to overthrow the government - and that would be very dangerous because it might mean a war would start. We don't want that - that's why people here PEACEFULLY demonstrate and protest!
The next sentence is a doozy - it puts the decision in the hands of the people of the United states. It tells us we HAVE to do this.
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
This is basically saying that the people of the United States need to stop complaining and actually do something about it - which would mean getting rid of you if you don't do your job the way it was mandated to be done. So basically, not only do YOU have a job to do, so do WE!
Teacher: Ok, that's all the time we have today. Tonight, I want you to read the rest of the Declaration and we'll go through it quickly tomorrow. Oh, and start studying the Constitution. This will tell you what rights we have and how you are supposed to protect them.
Have a great day! Now, GET OUT!
Ok, fictional yes, and not as in depth as it should be for adults, but you get the point. When governments forget who they are governing and why, then it's time for a tune up. Right?
Ok, long, befuddled rant over. Now, get off my lawn! :-)
