By Lance M. Brown, founder
of GreenLiberty.org, Future
Solutions, StopCarnivore.org,
CampusLP.org, and lpLists.org,
and co-founder of PeoplesForum.com and
Rent-a-Court; Candidate
for President - Year 2008.
The Problem
It is widely agreed that America has become a "corpocracy"-
run by and for the people with lots of money. Washington, D.C. is
seen as a strange, elitist place where backroom deals and campaign
contributions (not to mention $20,000 a plate dinners and nights
at the Lincoln Bedroom) determine public policy.
Our government has lost its way. It was designed to protect the
rights of the people, and instead it primarily protects politicians
and big business. Any positive effect that Government's work has
on its people seems almost coincidental.
How do we return power to the people? How do we make sure that
all Government is local, as the saying goes?
What needs to happen
There are two things that need to happen to ensure the health of
our democracy:
- Government must return decision-making power to individuals,
towns and states- in that order of priority. Citizens must be
allowed to have the most control possible over their own actions-
and they must be expected and required to assume the responsibilities
that come with that control.
We are in danger of being helped into helplessness by the Federal
Government. They have assumed control over so many facets of American
life that most decisions in this country aren't made by people,
but instead by committees, commissions, senates, assemblies, and
so on.
One size does not fit all
When Government sets a "nationwide standard," a county-wide
regulation, or any other new sweeping rule, it stifles our ability
to craft creative solutions as people, as neighborhoods, and as
communities. Aside from clear situations of physical harm, or harm
to property, there are few, if any, rules which can be fairly applied
to all 280+ million Americans. The same can generally be said about
state regulations. One size does not fit all when it comes to regulation.
When Government "takes action" on a social or cultural
problem, we as citizens and communities inevitably suffer, because
we lose the option to develop the solution which fits us best. Many
of us become passive about the problem, because we think that it
is "being taken care of" by Government- although, in our
hearts, we know that probably isn't true. Other people end up "battling
with the opposition" for control of the legislative process-
so that they can be the one to make the rules for everyone else.
Local and self-government is best
All government really is local- everything we do takes place between
individuals, in towns and cities. Individuals, towns and cities
must have the control and responsibility they need to run their
lives the way they think is best.
- Government must get out of the role of power-broker, where
legislation serves to support one agenda, industry, or special
interest group. Government needs to have one role— that of ensuring
the physical safety which its citizens need to live as free individuals.
Politics and Government have become a money-based battle for power.
Lobbyists, Special Interest Groups, Lawyers, Big Business, and the
Media run the show. Most people agree that the distance between
what those groups represent and what "we, the people"
represent is far, and growing farther.
The Election 2000 mess in Florida made it astonishingly clear that
our Government doesn't even have the means to find out what the
will of the people is, never mind the ability to carry it out.
Using aspirin to cure cancer
There are many suggestions on how to reform government to ensure
that it serves the needs of all people equally— making Election
Day a holiday and making it easier to register to vote, to limiting
corporate contributions to candidates and other types of "campaign
finance reform." Any of these ideas could help— but they will
be like taking aspirin to cure cancer. Unless we cure the cancer
itself, it will eventually kill our democracy.
No fair taking sides
The only way to take government out of the hands of the power-brokers,
and give it back to the people, is to take away its role as "arbiter
of force." We must not allow government to be a tool that groups
can use against each other. State and Federal governments should
refrain from "taking sides" on issues that don't involve
physical harm, or harm to property.
Social and cultural changes are best pursued through voluntary
means- and individuals, businesses, and communities must make the
efforts necessary to settle their differences, support their fellow
citizens, and come to peaceful arrangements on voluntary terms.
We must take back the right of self-governance and the responsibility
of community management.
Settle it on our own
In tandem with this, we must demand that government step out of
the role of deciding our fate, mapping our economy, and solving
our problems. By "choosing sides" and redistributing our
money on our behalf, government is taking away our ability to best
develop the life that we desire, as individuals and communities.
We can settle our differences on our own, and at a local level-
but only if Government steps out of the way.
If Government were removed from the role of redistributing our
country's resources, and focused only on ensuring our physical safety
and protecting our civil liberties, there would be no more platform
for political corruption. There is no "anti-safety" lobby-
and if the government's only job was to protect our safety and freedom,
there would be nothing for corporations, special interest groups,
and lobbyists to buy.
The battle for control is inefficient and
immoral
Instead of masking our social and cultural problems behind the
veil of "politics and government," we need to take back
control. Not only is it inefficient and divisive to battle for control
of the legislative process, it is morally wrong to use government
force to solve problems that can be solved otherwise.
Government is Force
We should recognize that Government is Force- and if we can use
it on our behalf, then others can use it against us. We have to
end this cycle, by reducing government to a role where it protects
and penalizes all citizens equally, and only for crimes of force,
theft, and fraud.
Special Interest Groups, and others who want social change should
make their case directly to the people and communities, and those
people and communities should take on the rights and responsibilities
needed to resolve social and cultural differences and economic problems
through peaceful and voluntary means.
It's time to stop just saying "Citizens should be more involved
with their local communities."
We need to start doing it.