The U.S. Government

The weather was cold, and the interior of the hall was chilly and bleak.   Macon noticed Susan gaping vacantly at the guide, who wasn�t making his spiel very exciting; so he leaned over and whispered, �Imagine. George Washington sat in that very chair.�

�I�m not really into George Washington, Uncle Macon.�

�Human beings can only go �into� houses, cars, and coffins, Susan.�

�Huh?�

�Never mind.�

They followed the crowd upstairs, through other rooms, but Susan had plainly exhausted her supply of good humor.   �If it weren�t for what was decided in this building,� Macon told her, �you and I might very well be living under a dictatorship.�

�We are anyhow,� she said.

�Pardon?�

�You really think that you and me have any power?�

�You and I, honey.�

�It�s just free speech, that�s all we�ve got.   We can say whatever we like, then the government goes on and does exactly what it pleases.   You call that democracy?   It�s like we�re on a ship, headed someplace terrible, and somebody else is steering and the passengers can�t jump off.�

"Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plentitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual."

- Thomas Jefferson

Now, let's look at the definition of democratic:

Let's now ask ourselves, do we live in a democratic society with a democratic government? Is their social equality, do you feel that your views are truly represented by the government and/or representatives elected to represent your views? Do we, the common people, have a say in what goes on behind the closed doors of our elected officials? But one of the biggest questions, we have to ask, is can our representatives really represent US when they live 10, 100, 500, 1000, or even 3000 miles away! How do they know what is going on in the neighborhoods and communities they have never been to? Yes, we do have the power of the Internet and fax machines, and phones, but how often are we listened to? Are not the groups and organizations who receive the most from our Congress and Senate officials, the ones who do the most lobbying (paying of money)? If this is the case, then how do we know they will hear or even care what we have to say, if they operate mainly or solely off of money? How does that make our government democratic, if you must give money to have your voice and opinions carried into the House and Congress?

Resources on Democracy

• Study Circle Democracy by Cecile Andrews
  
• Resource Guide for Democracy
  
• Earth Democracy - an interview with Vandana Shiva

Other Forms of Government

What other types of governments exist? Would it not be possible for us to create our own government that operates at the community level where the people live? Would a government operate better within the same community that the people reside in? Do we have to choose some form of rule or government that has already been established or can we "flip the script" and create a new government for this new day and age? Have we seen any improvements in our schools and the education system, our free/cheap labor system (we call prisons and universities), government regulation, environment, community interactions, and harmony among all people? If not, does that mean that our government needs to change? Where do we go from here? Do we continue to follow blindly or do we agree that something needs to be changed or done for "humanity" to exist and flourish?

"Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past."

- George Orwell 1984

What is anarchy? Is it really total chaos? Is there not chaos now in the country we live in under our current government and laws? How long has anarchy existed? Is there a push towards anarchy in this country and the world? Where can I get more information on anarchy?

U.S. Government Departments/Agencies

Within the government of the United States, how many different departments are there? What are each department's duties and responsibilities? How can we find out who works for them or can we even find out? Who is there to watch the government (FBI, NSA, Department of Defense War, Congress, CIA, etc) and police while they are watching US through ECHELON, Carnivore, the N.R.O. (National Reconnaissance Office), NASA, video cameras in the street lights and computer monitors, and/or the U.S. Military?

Does the CIA believe in and advocate violence? Who controls/commands the CIA? Since the CIA is responsible for deaths to humans in this county and elsewhere, is the same person who commands the CIA, an accessory to murder? Where are the people seeking the death penalty for the CIA, FBI, NSA, President of the United States, Governors, Congresspersons & Representatives, police, etc. when they murder or are accessories to murder that is usually pre-meditated?

Have groups/organizations/indivduals that seek peace, human rights, "freedom," equality, and environmental harmony been assassinated or murdered (by the U.S. government)? Is the CIA at war with Islam? If so, why? What can we obtain through the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)? Are we going to lose the TRUTH about our government's overt and covert operations that we currently have access to through the FOIA? These questions and more will hopefully be answered in the links that follow.