An American Takes a Look at Politics — I Look at a Bigger Picture
Susan Taylor, of Clearing Spaces for Joy, asked a series of “What if” questions that made me ask some questions of my own. The thing was, Susan was asking only from an American point of view. My nature is to look at a more universal point of view, the Big Picture, so-to-speak.
Susan’s questions will be typed in regular type, while mine will be in italics. First I pasted Susan’s question into the text; then I wrote my corresponding question into the text. Some of Susan’s questions I could not make universal, so I made no addition. Some questions I decided to ask that had no reference to what Susan asked. I listed them at the end. I hope some of these questions inspire you to think deeper.
I hope some of you will be inspired to ask questions of your own. PLEASE feel free to add them in the comment section.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ANSWER A QUESTION, PLEASE TELL US IN THE COMMENTS ALSO.
Without further ado, I give you Susan’s introduction, followed by mine…
Thinking about the 2024 “election” that is on track to put the worst ever president back into office (that being The Former Guy)…
Thinking about future elections in democratic states, including the USA, the fight has become about going backwards to a time of authoritarian rule, be it church or state or royalty, where particular people feel it their right to tell the rest of us what is best for us, people who decide how we should live and who should get the greatest benefits of the societies we live in, versus the societies we live in moving forward as one unit to the benefit of all.
1. What if … many more of our elected officials had actual integrity rather than simply an unquenchable hunger for power and wealth?
A. What if … all of our elected officials had to be honest and trustworthy, attuned to the needs of the whole society, not just catering to special interest groups. Not people who are only out for themselves and those like them — not people who feel they are superior in some way to everyone else, but peoplecwho genuinely care! What if they all had to prove their empathy?
2. What if … people running for office who are clearly criminals actually weren’t permitted to run, let alone stay in office, when the crimes were made public?
B. What if … we had an egalitarian society where no one was in need of anything, where everyone was truly equal, where no one put their own needs above the needs of anyone else — in other words, what if crime was not necessary?
3. What if … our elected officials were actual public servants and weren’t motivated to line their own pockets while allowing the struggling among us to get more and more overwhelmed?
C. What if … our officials were not elected, but appointed out of a group of thoroughly vetted candidates, nominated to others, who had to interview in front of boards of regular citizens (not just one board that might develop a bias, but perhaps 10 boards with different concerns, each board rating each candidate by its own systems, until one candidate becomes a clear choice. Power-hungry candidates would fall by the wayside, The selection system would be too onerous on them.)
4. What if … there wasn’t such a thing as lobbying? How am I the only person who sees how incredibly corrupt this process is? I mean, sure, send letters/emails, but how does it make any sense whatsoever that lobbyists can pour money into the coffers so as to get their way?
D. What if … lobbyists had to be licensed by a number of boards (see above), and be forced to lobby only in front of all legislators, and be summarily jailed without trial if they are discovered to be trying to lobby individuals or groups, or offer bribes to anyone. Five years for a first offence, and barred from lobbying for the rest of their lives!
5. What if … Democrats acknowledged that however great Biden has been as our president, he is probably not going to get re-elected if the media is constantly harping on him being too old?
E. What if …by law all media were barred from offering opinions, conducting polls, and otherwise prevented from trying to influence a vote. All they would be allowed to do is report facts in a non-partisan factual way. Huge fines would be exacted for breaking this law, with possible jail time for anyone deemed responsible for allowing the law to be broken — including media ownership!
6. What if … both of the front runners ACTUALLY ARE TOO OLD!
F. What if … age is not allowed to be a consideration, but health is, especially mental health — including signs of dementia.
7. What if … Democrats had actual vision and thought about who in the younger generation could lead this country?
G. What if … there were mandatory non-partisan leadership and competence training programs to search out and develop young talent to create a pool of candidates chosen not by political parties, but by the people themselves!
8. What if … President Biden made a speech that said it has been the honor of his life to lead our country and he wants to put our country into the capable hands of a younger leader … Gretchen Witmer or some other Democrat making changes in their own circle of influence?
9. What if … President Biden and everyone who supports him and his platform got the word out to vote for the “anointed successor?”
10. What if … there was an ever growing group of legislators who would ACTUALLY be willing to put country over self-interest?
H. What if … there was a way for citizens to vote on every bill that comes before a chamber of government? (With the Internet this is now possible!)
11. What if … our votes really mattered? I know sometimes contests are won by a small number of votes, but if the electoral college can override what the voters want, tell me how my vote matters.
12. What if … there was a commitment to trying new ways to compromise and accomplish things instead of just beating our heads against the wall and wondering why we all have these horrible headaches?
I. What if … participation of all parties in reaching a decision was mandatory, and any party refusing to compromise was removed from the chamber so that the remaining elected officials would be able to carry on the work of governing — if people are not willing to participate in a constructive manner with the intent of reaching the best solution they give up their right to be in attendance when the roll is called.
13. What if … RADICAL IDEA INCOMING … there existed a norm that we are all in this together? That life is meant to be lived with connection and consideration of others, as well as ourselves?
J. What if democracy was allowed to work the way it was designed to work. Of the people, for the people, by the people? What if there were no barriers to work being done, such an one person holding a filibuster without the consent of at least 1/10 of the chamber being filibustered. For one member to filibuster against the wishes of all others is an abuse of power.
K. What if … we could recall ANY politician including a nation’s leader if over half the voters in a constituency agreed the elected official was not worthy of retaining their position?
L. What if … the people were polled, similar to a referendum, about a controversial or wide-reaching agenda item, such as abortion, or gun control, and majority ruled!
My answer is, I would like my life as an American a whole lot better. How about you?
I do not have an answer, not yet. I am thinking about it… But what I do have is a message for Conservatives, Republicans, Regressionists and Devolutionists everywhere: Life is about moving forward and upward. From the Primordial Soup where life began, through the Dinosaur Ascendency and sudden ending, to the ascendency of homo homo sapiens. Life moves forward towards improvement, and life moves upward toward global awareness. YOU CANNOT STOP IT! YOU CANNOT MAKE IT GO BACKWARDS, OR DOWNWARDS! If you do not want to move forward and upward with the rest of humanity, go climb a tree, or hide in a cave. You have no place in this world. We’ll love you, and keep you fed, but if you don’t want to be like us, go live amongst your own kind. Leave the rest of us be. All you are doing is pissing us off. That cannot end well for anyone.
Ideas From Outside the Boxes 