Initiatives v Oligarchy

Our Founders' Warning: “Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.” (Thomas Jefferson)

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Can Congress and Oligarchs Prevent Solution?

Many comments received so far tend to prevent Solution, saying for example:

  1. Yes, it is a good idea.
  2. Yes, we need it.
  3. But many Citizens fear that “THEY” or the “powers that be” will prevent Solution and never allow this Amendment to pass.

THEY, of course, are the same wealthy special interests groups, Washington lobbyists, Congress and Media who all help create and benefit from these Problems laid upon the People. Mostly THEY are not organized to cause these Problems deliberately, but are only following their self-interest. Nevertheless, THEIR resistance to change will be enduring.

The approach taken in this plan is not to persuade by confrontation but to bypass THEM. Some will decide to support the Amendment as a matter of conscience. But adoption and ratification of the planned Amendment can be accomplished by the States without THEIR general support. Any reluctant States can even be persuaded by State initiatives in the 24 States that permit initiatives. As convincingly demonstrated in the 2004 general elections, the People can communicate by the Internet and persuade independently of the media to achieve power bases, generate funds, identify candidates and create voting majorities.

Faith in the States’ leadership has been earned in the past. For example, women’s suffrage was first approved by Washington State in 1910. State after state followed—the people of Oregon and Arizona even used the new power of State direct initiative to approve women’s vote. Finally, in 1919 Congress had little choice but to adopt the 19th Amendment, which was ratified by the States in 1920.

Thus, starting without even the power to vote, women eventually achieved suffrage. In the case of this planned Amendment, Citizens aged eighteen and over have the vote and can more easily attain this planned Amendment. At some point the People’s patience will have been tried beyond endurance and the momentum to take action will become unstoppable. The timing is not predictable—this plan may be an idea whose time has now come or it may evolve to meet unforeseeable future circumstances. In either case, since amendment of the constitution will be long and hard, it is worth starting now.