So far as I can tell, the vast majority of citizens are quite happy with our system of Government. They complain a great deal certainly, but only as one complains about an errant spouse or wayward children.
Yes, I’m really angry but I still love you and will welcome you back when you’re finally prepared to behave yourself
They (apparently) feel that our government has fulfilled the essential promises enshrined in
the Declaration of Independence and any departures from that standard have been the exception, not the norm. Given the opportunity, they might possibly make one or two minor changes, but nothing serious. I imagine that this attitude describes you as well.
Apparently I represent a miicroscopic minority, because I strongly disagree with that position. My views are drastically opposed. I believe that our Government and
all Governments erected on the institution of electoral representation are fatally flawed. I do not feel that the goals proclaimed in
the Declaration of Independence and the
Preamble to the Constitution have been achieved, and I think that the discrepancy between those ideals and the reality of daily life grows greater with each passing year. I believe that only by abandoning the corrupting influence of electoral politics and replacing it with the impartial selection processes of lottery and examination can we ever hope to employ leaders who will faithfully realize the goals set out in our founding documents.
I have repeatedly attempted to convince others of this dissenting viewpoint and always failed, but hope springs eternal and today I shall try again. My current effort seeks to persuade by contemplating the long view on human government. Instead of viewing politics purely as a historical phenomena associated with “civilized” humans I speculate on the origins of political behavior at the dawn of civilization. Considered in this remote context, I believe that politics may be explained as a product of ecology, not philosophy, and politicians may be described as predators or even parasites (but certainly not as statesmen). It is my hope that using this distant era as a reference point may change your attitudes about “modern” politics.
If you have an open mind and a long attention span then the following 40 page
essay may interest you. Even if you disagree with everything I say, you may still find it entertaining. After all, in the age of the internet echo chamber how often does one even encounter dissenting views anymore?