Self-Government

If you are like me, you've heard people say on more than occasion something like, "My vote doesn't count anyway." or "I don't have a say in the government." And truly, most people can't identify with the politicians who run for highest office. Another comment often heard, "There are no good choices again this year."

In small is still beautiful, Joseph Pearce comments on the progressive centralization of government:

When the politics of scale apply there is little option for individuals but to delegate many of their democratic functions to larger institutions. In short, democracy becomes subject to the theory of progressive centralization. Individuals delegate their democratic functions to a local council; the local council delegates its functions to a county council; the county council delegates its functions to a state government; the state government delegates to the national government....

Think, how many times in recent years do you hear state governors and legislatures complaining about "unfunded mandates"-things required by the federal government with no money given and no say in the matter. Right now you have several states rebelling against the federal government's "Real ID" program where the feds are telling the states how to issue driver's licenses-but the states will back down in the end.

More from Pearce:

Indeed, to what extent will the individual be able to influence a world government? ... Seen in this light, the theory of progressive centralization, in the relation to democracy, the practice of progressive usurpation. World government usurps the functions of continental unions; continental unions usurp the functions of national governments; .... and county councils usurp the functions of local councils. ..... People will have a vote even if they don't have a voice.

Few of the small people would not agree with Joseph Pearce's assessment. The cry of the American War for Independence was "No taxation without representation!" Isn't that the situation today?

So where do we go?

I am not calling for a reformation of our Constitution. (The Swiss Canton system, though, does have its attractions.) We have a Constitution. First we should examine it and the powers and functions granted by it-and at the very least try to follow our own Constitution.

Now to get from where we are back to the Constitution we are supposed to be governed by, is a topic of deeper details-and this is a general principle post. But this would be a priority of a Curley administration.

Oremus pro invicem!