Ye of little faith. As hard as it is without all'y'all, us other Enlightenment-faithful will duly carry the torch.
Just don't blow up the planet through action/inaction while you are off riding fences. You will be welcomed back on the team when the time comes (however regretfully long a time period that will be).
But we are not counting on you showing up for awhile.
"I am in no position to cast stones, of course. My point is simply that we are obsessed because we grew up in a world where America led the West. Even though most commentators cannot see it yet, that world is dying as the American empire declines."
Partly, because of Neoliberalism which became world wide but was implemented by Thatcher as Thatcherism in the UK and by Reagan as Reaganomics in the USA.
Promote market-based liberal democracy. Can't agree. We need responsible leadership in government, build public assets and infrastructure and especially housing.
We have tried neoliberalism markets for 45 years and it is the main reason we have rapidly increased inequality, climate change due to big Business control of markets and media and especially the feeling of precarity in almost all liberal democracies in the West. The proportion of wealth in the hands of the most wealthy has increased from 50% to 90% an increase of 80% in 5 decades. The USA and UK have increased inequality the most.
One of the biggest problems of America (and other FPTP Anglophone democracies) is high housing costs. But America doesn't have free-market housing, it has veto points―a culture of zoning restrictions and "no denser housing in MY neighborhood!" Housing is not a magic realm where the law of supply and demand does not apply. Lowering prices requires building.
Center-left neoliberals and center-right folks like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ted Halstead support perfectly workable climate solutions. Ted died, unfortunately, but I think if we want to defeat Trumpist demands to kill off renewables, we need to win elections, and that requires some conservatives on side.[1]
I don't like that wealth is concentrated at the top, but you didn't propose a solution. I propose that wealth isn't the real problem. Poverty is the main problem, plus corruption and concentration of power. As a neoliberal, I support lots of policies for addressing these problems.
I certainly do have a feeling of precarity. It's the feeling that authoritarians could get the upper hand and use their angry bullshit to destroy the institutions that made the western world great. While their corrupt politicians make everything shittier, their influencers convince everybody that it must be liberals and Democrats' fault...
But civilization *is* precarious. Even today, there are still places where people die of starvation, where people can't afford a $10/month medication, where people are killed for being the wrong ethnic group. Good governance is more than just a nice to have; it's often why we're alive at all.
Almost everything in the Constitution is in it to reduce tyranny, bribery, and corruption because there was a great deal of tyranny, bribery, and corruption between 1750 and the writing of the Constitution. The Democratic Party wrecked the Constitution when Woodrow Wilson was President. Democrats caused the Great Depression because they created the Federal Reserve and took away from State legislatures the power to tariff, the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, the power to regulate banks and investment companies, the ability to choose judges on US Supreme Court, the power to coin money and regulate money, the power to Declare War, etc. President has power to tariff because of Democrats. Our Republic is being destroyed by Fascist Fake Progressives and Fascist Fake Republicans. Modern Fascism was created by Democratic Party and then spread to Nazi Germany.
I would like an Amendment to Constitution that increases the number of judges on US Supreme Court to 15. Each new President starting in 2029 would get to pick 2 judges on US Supreme Court until we hit 15.
I would like an Amendment to Constitution that limits judges on US Supreme Court to 18 years. The 18 years starts on the day the Amendment is ratified by the necessary number of States.
I would like us to have at least 3,000 Representatives to the US House of Representatives. Our founders wanted the numbers of Representatives in the US House of Representatives to increase over time.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives each State 3 US Senators - 2 chosen by the people and 1 by State legislature. State legislatures should be allowed to fire US Senators they choose whenever they want and pick replacements. State legislatures would again have a say on Declaring War, military draft, Judges on US Supreme Court, tariffs, federal taxes, immigration, etc. State legislatures would be better able to fire the President.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that fixes Electoral College. Winner of a state gets 2 electoral college votes and winner of Congressional districts gets 1. Current electoral college system and popular vote for President both provide huge benefits for violence at polling places, ballot stuffing, voter suppression. Popular vote for President would decease odds Presidents would care about states low in population like NH.
Would like Amendment to Constitution - the only pay that Judges on US Supreme Court, federal judges, State Supreme Court Judges, President of the United States of America, Vice President of the United States of America, Speaker of United States of America, members of Congress, Secretaries of Federal Department should get is their pay for the position. No more domestic emoluments. No more foreign emoluments worth over $100. Foreign emoluments will continue to need the permission of members of Congress before they may be taken. Gifts from non family members have to be under $100. They may receive military pensions and state government pensions. Pensions from companies should be held in trust until after leave office.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that says when a Treaty conflicts with Bill of Rights or other parts of Constitution that part of Treaty is not constitutional.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US House of Representatives Advice and Consent on Treaties.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to nullify, federal laws, federal regulations, Treaties.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to nullify, federal laws, federal regulations, Treaties.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures power to pardon federal crimes.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives States legislatures power to pardon state crimes.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US Senate power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US House of Representatives the power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives people the power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes. Innocent people have received death penalty.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to fire President, Vice President, Speaker of US House of Representatives, Secretary of State of USA, Judges on US Supreme Court, Secretaries of Federal Departments, Director of FBI, Director of CIA.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to fire President, Vice President, Speaker of US House of Representatives, Secretary of State of USA, Judges on US Supreme Court, Secretaries of Federal Departments, Director of FBI, Director of CIA.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to fire their US Senators, their Representatives to US House of Representatives, Governors, Mayors, Aldermen, members of School Boards, members of State legislatures. When the people fire US Senator chosen by State legislature, State legislature chosen by State legislature, State legislature chooses the replacement. The people pick the replacements for US Senators and others they elected via elections.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to fire US Senators and Representatives to US House of Representatives the people pick. The people would pick the replacements via elections.
Ye of little faith. As hard as it is without all'y'all, us other Enlightenment-faithful will duly carry the torch.
Just don't blow up the planet through action/inaction while you are off riding fences. You will be welcomed back on the team when the time comes (however regretfully long a time period that will be).
But we are not counting on you showing up for awhile.
The article above this on my subscriptions list:
"I am in no position to cast stones, of course. My point is simply that we are obsessed because we grew up in a world where America led the West. Even though most commentators cannot see it yet, that world is dying as the American empire declines."
https://nickcohen.substack.com/p/wisconsin-and-the-fate-of-the-west
Partly, because of Neoliberalism which became world wide but was implemented by Thatcher as Thatcherism in the UK and by Reagan as Reaganomics in the USA.
Promote market-based liberal democracy. Can't agree. We need responsible leadership in government, build public assets and infrastructure and especially housing.
We have tried neoliberalism markets for 45 years and it is the main reason we have rapidly increased inequality, climate change due to big Business control of markets and media and especially the feeling of precarity in almost all liberal democracies in the West. The proportion of wealth in the hands of the most wealthy has increased from 50% to 90% an increase of 80% in 5 decades. The USA and UK have increased inequality the most.
One of the biggest problems of America (and other FPTP Anglophone democracies) is high housing costs. But America doesn't have free-market housing, it has veto points―a culture of zoning restrictions and "no denser housing in MY neighborhood!" Housing is not a magic realm where the law of supply and demand does not apply. Lowering prices requires building.
Center-left neoliberals and center-right folks like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ted Halstead support perfectly workable climate solutions. Ted died, unfortunately, but I think if we want to defeat Trumpist demands to kill off renewables, we need to win elections, and that requires some conservatives on side.[1]
I don't like that wealth is concentrated at the top, but you didn't propose a solution. I propose that wealth isn't the real problem. Poverty is the main problem, plus corruption and concentration of power. As a neoliberal, I support lots of policies for addressing these problems.
I certainly do have a feeling of precarity. It's the feeling that authoritarians could get the upper hand and use their angry bullshit to destroy the institutions that made the western world great. While their corrupt politicians make everything shittier, their influencers convince everybody that it must be liberals and Democrats' fault...
But civilization *is* precarious. Even today, there are still places where people die of starvation, where people can't afford a $10/month medication, where people are killed for being the wrong ethnic group. Good governance is more than just a nice to have; it's often why we're alive at all.
[1] This is Ted's talk. Hard to imagine today's Republicans endorsing it, but I think it's a good reminder that there are enough votes to get things done if we have a big tent. https://www.ted.com/talks/ted_halstead_a_climate_solution_where_all_sides_can_win
Almost everything in the Constitution is in it to reduce tyranny, bribery, and corruption because there was a great deal of tyranny, bribery, and corruption between 1750 and the writing of the Constitution. The Democratic Party wrecked the Constitution when Woodrow Wilson was President. Democrats caused the Great Depression because they created the Federal Reserve and took away from State legislatures the power to tariff, the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, the power to regulate banks and investment companies, the ability to choose judges on US Supreme Court, the power to coin money and regulate money, the power to Declare War, etc. President has power to tariff because of Democrats. Our Republic is being destroyed by Fascist Fake Progressives and Fascist Fake Republicans. Modern Fascism was created by Democratic Party and then spread to Nazi Germany.
I would like an Amendment to Constitution that increases the number of judges on US Supreme Court to 15. Each new President starting in 2029 would get to pick 2 judges on US Supreme Court until we hit 15.
I would like an Amendment to Constitution that limits judges on US Supreme Court to 18 years. The 18 years starts on the day the Amendment is ratified by the necessary number of States.
I would like us to have at least 3,000 Representatives to the US House of Representatives. Our founders wanted the numbers of Representatives in the US House of Representatives to increase over time.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives each State 3 US Senators - 2 chosen by the people and 1 by State legislature. State legislatures should be allowed to fire US Senators they choose whenever they want and pick replacements. State legislatures would again have a say on Declaring War, military draft, Judges on US Supreme Court, tariffs, federal taxes, immigration, etc. State legislatures would be better able to fire the President.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that fixes Electoral College. Winner of a state gets 2 electoral college votes and winner of Congressional districts gets 1. Current electoral college system and popular vote for President both provide huge benefits for violence at polling places, ballot stuffing, voter suppression. Popular vote for President would decease odds Presidents would care about states low in population like NH.
Would like Amendment to Constitution - the only pay that Judges on US Supreme Court, federal judges, State Supreme Court Judges, President of the United States of America, Vice President of the United States of America, Speaker of United States of America, members of Congress, Secretaries of Federal Department should get is their pay for the position. No more domestic emoluments. No more foreign emoluments worth over $100. Foreign emoluments will continue to need the permission of members of Congress before they may be taken. Gifts from non family members have to be under $100. They may receive military pensions and state government pensions. Pensions from companies should be held in trust until after leave office.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that says when a Treaty conflicts with Bill of Rights or other parts of Constitution that part of Treaty is not constitutional.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US House of Representatives Advice and Consent on Treaties.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to nullify, federal laws, federal regulations, Treaties.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to nullify, federal laws, federal regulations, Treaties.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures power to pardon federal crimes.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives States legislatures power to pardon state crimes.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US Senate power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives US House of Representatives the power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives people the power to pardon federal crimes and state crimes. Innocent people have received death penalty.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to fire President, Vice President, Speaker of US House of Representatives, Secretary of State of USA, Judges on US Supreme Court, Secretaries of Federal Departments, Director of FBI, Director of CIA.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to fire President, Vice President, Speaker of US House of Representatives, Secretary of State of USA, Judges on US Supreme Court, Secretaries of Federal Departments, Director of FBI, Director of CIA.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives the people the power to fire their US Senators, their Representatives to US House of Representatives, Governors, Mayors, Aldermen, members of School Boards, members of State legislatures. When the people fire US Senator chosen by State legislature, State legislature chosen by State legislature, State legislature chooses the replacement. The people pick the replacements for US Senators and others they elected via elections.
Would like Amendment to Constitution that gives State legislatures the power to fire US Senators and Representatives to US House of Representatives the people pick. The people would pick the replacements via elections.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Scot Stremsky
187 Poplar Street
Manchester, NH 03104
603-647-5898