We Individuals have an enormous drawback that we don’t need to face instantly.
We’ve got misplaced religion in our united system of governance. Solely 64% of eligible adults voted within the 2024 presidential election and much fewer vote in gubernatorial elections. A big group of Individuals don’t imagine it issues who’s in workplace or what occurs in authorities.
Even those that vote usually make choices primarily based upon scant or deceptive data. Within the fashionable period, “alternative facts” are a protect towards actuality. Denial is an enormously highly effective software that permits us to keep away from any particular person duty for our state of affairs. The kernel of reality that we don’t need to face is that the failure of our nation is our fault.
The “great American experiment in government” failed way back, and we’ve got been in denial about that for a few years.
Why did we fail? Can it’s mounted? Ought to we simply begin over? I imagine the solutions to those questions are easy and everybody is aware of the reality deep down.
The reply to the “why” query begins with our founding paperwork. What the Founding Fathers meant by “all men are created equal” and “endowed … with certain unalienable Rights,” shouldn’t be what it appears like at present. To them “all men” meant wealthy, White male property homeowners — not ladies, not folks of colour, not these with out property, and positively not poor folks, slaves or Indigenous folks.
From the beginning, our nation has struggled to make sense of the inherent battle between language, apply and intent. Racism, xenophobia, misogyny and unchecked avarice are constructed into our society and our legal guidelines. Certainly, the historical past of the USA is known greatest as a collection of conflicts about these very points. We failed as a result of we’ve got by no means truthfully resolved these conflicts.
Ought to we burn it down and begin a brand new plutocracy? The reply can be apparent.
We’re doing that proper now! Many highly effective empires/international locations have come and gone. Only a few lasted greater than 350 years. Basically all failed when the disparity of wealth and alternative among the many residents grew to become so large that the majority felt that revolution was their solely sensible selection.
The USA is remarkably near that time now. Actually, we might have already handed it. The nation’s 800 billionaires maintain extra wealth than half the nation. These on the backside have been starved of the chance to succeed, and plenty of of them are ladies, folks of colour, and caught in generational poverty created by the rich who management authorities. Remembering Lincoln’s well-known quote, “a house divided cannot stand.”? We’re there.
Can it’s “fixed”? No! Not with the present construction. Fixing the present system would require that wealthy, White males and others relinquish a few of their wealth, energy and privilege. That isn’t going to occur because the system protects them. The one peaceable solution to change your complete system requires the participation of all residents. The privileged class should settle for the truth that their habits is unhealthy for everybody, together with themselves.
Is there hope? Sure, however the window of alternative for change is ridiculously small. All the world is aware of that the U in USA is a fantasy. Will we admit it to ourselves and take the motion essential to truthfully name ourselves united? I have no idea.
Dr. Jeff Smith, a lawyer and medical physician, retired in 2023 after serving 14 years as county govt of Santa Clara County. Previous to that he was chief medical officer of Contra Costa County, the place he had beforehand served as a county supervisor.
