Sorry, mr-x. I am so accustomed to arguing with Kate, I was surprised to read her post something that I agreed with 100%.
If the republic is working as designed, then there is a design flaw that allows systemic corruption. I doubt the founding fathers would say it is working as designed. They would be shocked at the government overreach, massive taxes without representation and the suspension of rights. The constitution has long since become obsolete, sadly. Heck, even Eisenhower would be shocked.
I think your right that the human authors of our Gov would be shocked at the autonomy and authority states have given up to the federal Gov..
But, the American Revolution was against an unfair, corrupt monarchy. American founders understood the human condition, were well educated in Christian and libertine values. Hence, a flexible, hard to control republic designed to give states autonomy, while granting limited power to federal Gov authority.
They wanted to protect America from both a monarchy and unlimited democracy and did a pretty good job. Unfortunately, there is no human government that is not vulnerable to bad leadership and corruption. We have some of the best check and balances on power in the modern world.
Today the threat to freedom is from the left. We have communist OAC, Ilhan Omar and others who are darlings of a corrupt, progressive media. Identity politics exploits peoples resentment and seems to encourage racism and self-victimization.
We have a President who thrives on chaos, a corrupt media that thrives on chaos, two decades of war. All in all, I'm surprised were doing this well.
Yes, the media and other influencers are dividing the nation. Which is why it's not so simple just to blame the left. The so-called right is in the game as well, talking out of both sides of their mouths.
The US has been at war for two decades, indeed. Isn't that a disgrace? How is that different from Orwell's perpetual war in 1984? Who is the war against exactly? Where is the front? The answers seem to be potentially anyone and anywhere. It is a limitless "war" with no defined objectives - but serves as a great excuse to strip away the rights of the citizenry (and to make money for the defense and security industry and their pet politicians).
Sure AOC is a nutter. But I don't hear anyone on the right decrying the 24-hour surveillance state or out-of-control government except Rand Paul. And people think he is a nutter for doing so. At least the Chinese know what kind of government they have - they are not out lecturing the world about how free they are.
Surveillance state is more like corporate surveillance. Have a conversations about a product, then see ads for that product. We happily carry a surveillance device. Even if you leave your phone turned off in the other room, the person your talking with is probably carrying a phone, or you're TV is listening.
