Doug, et al-
Despite my participation in debunking the specifics of the chain-mail
attributed to Warren Buffet, I am sympathetic with some if not most of
it's tone and message. I believe that our political strata, both at
state and federal levels are generally corrupt, sold out, or at least
out of touch with what "we the people" want, and the perqs of the office
only serve to make them more apart. On the other hand, I have a nose
for conspiracy theories that take any good issue and blow it out of
proportion and inject their own brand of craziness.
The Founding Fathers *may have* envisioned citizen legislators, but we
should also remember that at the time, *citizens* were defined by
property ownership, gender and race. So, the "Citizen Legislators"
they envisioned were "landed (white) gentlemen" who were both educated
and who had significant vested interests in the economy... The rest (of
us?) *were* the ignorant unwashed masses to them, as I fear we continue
to be to "them".
I love the phrasing you use here Doug, I'm suspecting you were quite
deliberate in the allusion implied with "47% of the population *liked*
Sara Palin for president". It may not be long before most of the
population believes that they can (and should be able to) elect a
president over Facebook! I'd like to believe that 50% of that 47% were
really "liking" Tina Fey or Lisa Ann without realizing that either of
these *actresses* were not Sara herself anyway...
I've always been offended by how much our election process looks like a
popularity contest. Which reminds me... is anyone following "Americans
Elect" still? I'm still getting their mailings...
- Steve
And how, in country where 47% of the population liked Sarah Palin for
president do you envision this version of Utopia evolving, Marcus?
Sent from my Kindle Fire
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* "Marcus G. Daniels" <mar...@snoutfarm.com>
*Sent:* Sun Jan 08 13:00:52 MST 2012
*To:* friam@redfish.com
*Subject:* Re: [FRIAM] Fwd: Winds of Change
On 1/8/12 11:23 AM, Douglas Roberts wrote:
The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours
should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
I want professionals working on my behalf. I want skeptical decision
makers that can engage lobbyists (small and large) and force them to
provide public arguments for what it is they want. I want leaders to
be comfortable publicly _laughing at_ lobbyist requests when those
requests don't advance the greater good. So no, I don't want
Congress on a still shorter leash. That's the problem in my opinion:
Congress typically panders to the voting blocks that are easiest to
manipulate, and otherwise is slave to individuals and groups with
money. I don't see why short-term representation by distracted,
overwhelmed, and inexperienced people will be any better.
Marcus
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Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
