I love it when the conclusion of an otherwise well-written piece is also the opposite of what needs to be done.
“Our political and social systems need to be radically decoupled from our economic ones, and we need to invest enormously into our newly diverse communities.”
Our political and social systems are decoupled from our economic one. Let me correct this further: our political system is decoupled from our social and economic ones.
We need a further coupling of our political system to the other systems, because right now it sucks.
In our economy, we have plenty of choice (if we have the money), but in our political system we are wearing a loose straight-jacket. We can pick red and blue. That’s All, Folks. It is decoupled right now. A further decoupling would make it worse.
So, how to tame the two political Monsters? By following the US Constitution. It says that we must have the better form of government. So, Step 1, let’s get it where we can.
Unfortunately, right now, we can only get it at the local level, cities and counties. But that’s okay, because most cities and counties have a board or council that is often occupied by member of just red or just blue. And that stinks.
ALL voters can point their finger to the person or party they voted for after the election — in Proportional Voting. In our current system, only the winners sit at the table; just the majority voters in our districts are represented — a real disconnect. And next, the majority decision of the board is based on a majority of the winners only — a double whammy.
We compete to be represented in the USA and, simply put, that is not a democracy! We should not compete for representation, but simply pick who is going to represent us. We are involved in divide-and-conquer (or divide and be conquered) the second we step into the voting booth. That is not a democracy, and we are being taken for a ride.
Naturally, the rich do well (they always do well), and the division is happening to the poor, the middle class, and even for the lower upper class (though I do not pity them). We are not a democracy, even though the US Constitution says we should have the better system in place. Let’s get it (first cities and counties, next State constitutional change (and next, we’ll see).
Okay, yes, thank you for your article. Well-written, but I prefer the better conclusion. Let’s couple the systems better; make it a fit.
