Like everyone else, I have been watching the OWS stuff and I will be participating this coming Saturday in Seattle or Tacoma. I have seen quite a bit of the stuff concerning grievances and understand that, in the opinion of many, it is not our job to legislate proper changes to address the grievances. Yet I can't help but interpret the 99% proposition as a simple statement concerning the lack of proper representation of the common people in their government. For if the government actually did represent the common people then how would it be that 99% of us are disenfranchised? And, of course, the problem is that we aren't adequately represented.
So the question arises as to why, with all the screeching and moaning and wailing and sobbing, we have yet to see any of the myriad spokespersons and pundits, call for an increase in the representation of the common people? What I mean by this, is why have we not seen a call for an increase in the number of representatives and thus, much more locally accountable representatives that hold office BECAUSE they actually represent? After all, the smaller the group being represented, then the more representative a person elected by the group WILL be.
I have written many articles on this subject in the past. But, for the life of me, I can't see how this can be missed by the 99%. Either the 99% are adequately represented or they are not. And the OWS movement would seem to tell us that we need a constitutional amendment to ensure adequate representation for the common people in their government. Madison's notion that the congress would automatically increase its membership has proven to be incorrect. And the Two-Party has essentially grandfathered itself into place, locked the door, and hidden the key. For in very large constituencies money has far too much influence.
Some of us who have researched the subject have documented the fact that such an amendment was the very FIRST amendment sought to the new constitution as a part of its ratification. We observe that "Article the First" was called for by almost every ratifying convention and that the amendment was sabotaged by a joint House and Senate committee (probably by Madison himself) before the amendment went to the states for ratification. More on the subject can be found at Thirty-Thousand.org. Surprisingly, the problem is seen from both sides of the political spectrum as the Tea Party types see the lack of proper representation as a cornerstone of an "out of control" government.
Most on the left center their attentions on campaign finance reform. And while this is s worthy goal it is struck down continually by the judiciary as being a limitation on free speech. It is unconstitutional to limit what people can do in the way of free speech using their own money. The actual problem is one of proper education and awareness on the part of the voters and the lack of choices imposed by the two party system. And it is not the positive campaigning that is feared by representatives of good character. It is the negative. If it is not possible to educate and inform the voting public then the concept of democracy fails.
"I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education." - Thomas Jefferson
In the longer term misinformation is its own worst enemy. And we have many more avenues open to us for proper information than we have ever had. I am always encouraged by "Schoolhouse Rock" as I am by U-Tube. We have MSMBC and Current TV. We also have the blogosphere. To conclude that we must stifle the rich and the powerful in their efforts to mislead and misinform is to address the problem from an un-American and anti-democratic perspective. Simply stated: Smaller constituencies cannot be bought. In smaller constituencies the ground game, the handshaking, the county fair, the door to door, the familiarity of a local personage will kick the hell out of Mr. well funded centerfold every time. Those who are most representative will be the representative.