And now "The Fix"

Institutions organize people, but they do not serve them.

When you look at government, banks, big business, the workplace, or the church… does this match what you’ve seen?

Has an institution ever put its own survival above the people it was meant to serve?

Now, let’s suppose or at least consider - that this isn’t a flaw but the natural tendency of all institutions. Let’s also accept that any large body of humanity needs institutions to function.

If both of those are true, then would it not follow that only an institution built by the people, accountable to the people, and forever held in check by the people, can truly serve them?

And now let me suggest something simple, something foundational:

One person, one vote — a true democracy, by and of the people that then truly serves the people.

In summary:

Institutions are necessary, but they do not naturally serve the people.

Therefore, only institutions permanently controlled by the people can serve them.

And the mechanism of that control is one person, one vote — a true democracy.

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bookerdana · M

I just got up ,so this may be scattered..in the writing of the Constitution both Jefferson and Franklin
did not take part being overseas.
Alexander Hamilton,who thought the people incapable of governing themselves had a disproportionate influence

If you mean abolishing the Electoral College and the always gerrymandered .I'm in though I'd like to see it blocked out

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Ontheroad · M

@bookerdana good question and one I'm struggling with. As I've said, it took me months to get where I am and to try and logically explain how I arrived at my conclusion would require a ride-along that I didn't see people being interested in. So what I did was as best I could, summarize what I'd learned and threw it out to see if it gained traction and interest.

I thinking now I need to go back and put all the random wanderings, discoveries, thoughts, facts, etc., into a rather long reading for those who are truly interested.

bookerdana · M

@Ontheroad A Constitutional Convention II is a big step....its not a perfect document but it amendable.
I always remember Chesterton's fence,ie if you come across a fence,before tearing it up,you should find why it was built.

But I'm looking forward to hearing more

Ontheroad · M

@bookerdana that's part of what I see... it's more than amendments. It's almost the entire Constitution that follows the preamble that wanders away from the Declaration and preamble to the Constitution and in its whole, puts the power in the hands of the institution and parties.

The people don't even choose who gets to run in primaries. And they in fact, have almost zero say in legislation or anything else the institution does.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

A strong institutional framework is essential for democracy to survive and flourish. A strong institution is one in which citizens regularly participate and refine. That means all the unglamorous hard stuff such as volunteering and fundraising, as well as the higher profile elections and committee meetings. The power is in your hands to use these structures to improve society and resist authoritarianism. But it requires work and commitment that fewer people seem to be prepared to make these days.

Ontheroad · M

@SunshineGirl I agree and the last part is due, I think, to the disillusionment people are experiencing with the institution being in control, not the people.

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