First Commandment: THOU SHALT TAKE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS
No money in politics. Zero! First, people should stand up and declare
unequivocally they will not vote for anyone who takes ANY money from
corporations, lobbyists and PACs. Then, down the road, by having
elections 100% financed out of public funds, we can build a democracy
where our legislators might actually have some time to legislate. It is
common knowledge, most federal office holders spend enormous amounts of
time raising funds and worrying about winning the next election, instead
of doing the job we voted them in office to do. Let's end this right
now!
Second Commandment: THOU SHALT HONOR CHOICE AT THE POLLS
It's time to institute instant run-off voting. This will allow minor party
candidates to run at all levels of government without the understandable
fear that a voter is throwing away her or his vote. Our current system
has, as Ralph Nader has been saying all along, turned into a choice
between Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum. Without real choice, meaning a
range that covers the entire spectrum of political opinion, democracy
becomes a sham, and purely an exercise in futility.
Third Commandment: THOU SHALT RESPECT THE COMMONS
Right off, we need to re-establish a commons. So much of what constitutes the
foundation for a functioning society has been privatized __ prisons,
education, utilities, mail, roads, bridges. And it hasn’t worked out
well, has it? The nation’s infrastructure is a shambles. There are some
basic things we should all be able to have free and open access to,
facilities and services which should not be at the mercy of the
so-called free market: education, clean air and water, energy, health
care, retirement security, the INTERNET, police, fire and ambulance
services, nutrition and mental health counseling. This is not
socialism. It’s having a country that works.
Fourth Commandment: THOU SHALT PUT MONEY CREATION AND
THE CONTROL OF THE NATION’S CURRENCY BACK INTO THE
PUBLIC DOMAIN
The control and issuance of currency must be returned to the federal
government. The Federal Reserve is no more "federal" than Federal
Express, and as a result America is now hostage to private banks and we
rapidly becoming their serf-slaves. Either nationalize or abolish the
Federal Reserve and return creation of our fiat currency to the people
of America, regulated by a legitimate, functioning system of
representative government.
Fifth Commandment: THOU SHALT LIVE BY RULE OF LAW
We have a two-tiered legal system, a gentle one for the privileged, a brutal
one for the rest of us. The oligarchs do what they want unfettered by pesky
laws. Sometimes the same laws are used to restrain and incarcerate the
rest of us. Same thing on an international level. Two tiers. The U.S.
bullies the world, ignoring treaty obligations and international law,
treating other countries as vassal states. But it uses the same legal
instruments as a bludgeon, holding every other nation's feet to the fire
with sanctions, UN resolutions, trade agreements __ whatever__ when it
serves our interests, or more accurately, the interests of the
corporations who are really setting the agenda. This gross hypocrisy is
creating enemies everywhere. We are long overdue to again respect the
law, apply it equally and fairly across the board, both at home and
around the world.
Sixth Commandment: THOU SHALT REIN IN CAPITALISM
A nice breeze on a clear spring day __ good! . . . A level 5 hurricane that
destroys vast swaths of dwellings and kills countless people __ bad! . . .
Surfer and swimmer-friendly waves lapping up on a sandy beach __
good! . . . A tsunami crushing whole towns with a 100 foot wall of
terrifying force __ bad! . . . Sunlight from hydrogen fusion nurturing
our planet with gentle rays of light and warmth __ good! . . . An
inferno of hydrogen fusion raining down on cities across the world as
mammoth nuclear bombs, destroying the entire human race __ bad! We
mostly tend to agree that capitalism provides a powerful engine to drive
development and progress. But too much of it and societies are crushed,
democracies destroyed, vast numbers of people are relegated to serf
status. Other countries have strict regulation and state control to check
the ravaging effects of unfettered capitalism. Now it’s America’s turn.
Either we rein it in or we can kiss good-bye our once-great country
as it descends into the dustbin of history.
Seventh Commandment: THOU SHALT MAKE CORPORATIONS SERVANTS OF THE GREATER GOOD
It will be tough but the whole bogus concept of corporate personhood must be
expunged. Totally voided. It was put in place by devious methods and now
must be rooted out. In general, it's way past time to drastically
restrict the charters of corporations, such that the interests of people
are balanced with the pursuit of profit. This is the way it used to be
in the early days of our nation. Back then, corporations were set up for
specific and usually public-spirited projects, assigned a very narrowly
defined charter and a fixed duration. When whatever was supposed to get
done got done, the corporation was dissolved. Maybe we don't have to
return to such a limited implementation in our modern world, but we do
have to require that corporations serve the common good. It is
entirely legal to dictate that corporations act responsibly and take
into account the needs of the community they serve, especially the
communities where they reside. We have to elect individuals who are not
in the pockets of the corporations and have them re-write the laws for
doing the business of America. If the multinational bohemoths don't like
it, let them set up in China, Vietnam or Bangladesh. That's where they
already have their factories anyway. Ultimately this will not harm the
economy, it will create a society which is healthy and prosperous for everyone.
Eight Commandment: THOU SHALT PROMOTE PEACE AND BE LOVED AGAIN
America must be taken off of a war footing. The high-alert status both at
home and around the world is nothing more than highly destructive
fear-mongering. It is used to promote a belligerent self-sabotaging
approach to international relations. It's the product of a grossly
delusional neocon imperialistic agenda which Americans don't support __
"exceptionalist" chest-beating which fills the coffers of the defense
contractors but bankrupts the rest of us both financially and
spiritually. We’ve meddled and bombed enough. It has accomplished
nothing and created more problems and more enemies than we had before we
decided that military force was the only way to deal with disagreements
and crises in the world. It has also subjected the American people to
unprecedented and unconstitutional levels of surveillance and a gross
abrogation of our rights as citizens. Time to try peace and cooperation
instead of threats and bullying.
Ninth Commandment: THOU SHALT RESPECT MOTHER EARTH
Enough silly arguing and tiptoeing around climate change. It’s happening,
it could destroy the human race. It will without a doubt reduce
civilization to a shell of its former glory and sophistication. Let’s
get to work. Global warming and resource depletion represent the
greatest threats to mankind in recorded history. Responsible use of
resources and creation of sustainable sources of energy are not only
necessary, but could be the greatest unifying force ever! Brainstorming
and planning will create a monumental paradigm shift and the subsequent
implementation of our collective ingenuity will create jobs and bring
together behind a common purpose, a world which is torn by divisiveness,
fear, suspicion, anger. Though time is quickly running out, the
challenge of a planet in crisis doesn't have to end in total disaster.
On the contrary, this could be a historic opportunity for a massive
global initiative __ one of renewal and fellowship.
Tenth Commandment: THOU SHALT LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
The rich and powerful have had a good run. The party is over. The wealthy
should start paying back the country which gave birth to their monumental
success. Inherited wealth does not give back to the community, the
social and political environment that supported the accumulation of all
that money. Tax it at 95% above $5 million. The heirs of the Koch
brothers will just have to squeak by on their $5.2 billion. Capital
gains? Capital gains is income. Tax it at the same rate as
personal income. Speaking of which __ time to return to the progressive
tax rates of the 60s and 70s. You know them. The ones which resulted in a
thriving economy! Massive tax reform across the board is in order,
closing of all loopholes, penalizing off-shoring of profits, and the
complete elimination of corporate welfare. Do I hear screaming of
'SOCIALISM!' out there? Get a life! Yes, this is redistribution of wealth.
It's been going on for thousands of years. It's what makes a functioning
society possible.
I confess, I’m not up to speed on my Bible studies. But I remember hearing at
some point, there were originally twenty commandments. I guess our good guy,
Moses, lost a tablet or two on his way down from the mountain.
I take this as meaning there’s room on my list for even more. So let’s come up
with some ideas for Commandments 11 - 20. All reasonable and constructive
ideas are welcome.
I’ll bet there’s a little Moses in everyone just hankering to bust out.
Come on. Go for it!
Let's make America great again.
[ This originated at the author's personal web site . . . http://jdrachel.com ]
