Common Ground

Motivated by Barnabus' comment in the "Second American Revolution" thread below and TPG's thoughts on globalization, I decided to post some thoughts on these topics in a new thread. Indeed, trying to find common ground between people is a truly noble trait. Often the only way to peacefully rectify disagreement is to first identify common ground, as progression hinges on mutual compromise. Progression is also dependent on interaction and participation of all parties involved.

January 13, 1777, Thomas Paine wrote a letter entitled American Crisis II, in response to Admiral Richard Howe's announcement that King George III offered pardons to all in exchange for reconciliation. Within this letter the phrase, "The United States of America" would be published for the first time. The following is the introductory paragraph:

UNIVERSAL empire is the prerogative of a writer. His concerns are with all mankind, and though he cannot command their obedience, he can assign them their duty. The Republic of Letters is more ancient than monarchy, and of far higher character in the world than the vassal court of Britain; he that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to "Defender of the Faith," than George the Third.

Indeed, Thomas Paine envisioned a universal empire for all mankind. It seems to me that history... destiny... has bound the United States of America to globalization, to global democracy. The internet is the new Republic of Letters and a powerful ally of globalization. By sharing ideas, news and perspectives directly, many barriers to reconciliation amongst earths people can be circumvented. Ultimate global reconciliation will only be possible through the process of globalization. Global democracy is far from reality but the seeds are being planted, the seedlings nurtured, perhaps one day we may find ourselves in a deep, beautiful forest of global common ground?

First things first. The United States of America must look into the mirror and into the pages of history. Democracy can not be "spread" with force and war, these instruments will return opposition and war! Only reason can spread democracy through the process of education. The state of democracy in the USA is sickly and ragged. The superficial government of the USA is of grave concern. Our congressional representatives are now so far "removed" from the people they are supposedly representing, that many people don't care about politics anymore. More bad things will happen with a populous continually relinquishing power and caring even less. Corruption, greed, tyranny, war... Within American Crisis II Thomas Paine writes:

"The UNITED STATES of AMERICA," will sound as pompously in the world or in history, as "the kingdom of Great Britain"...

While pride is an desirable quality, it must be tempered with absolute humility. Further into American Crisis II Thomas Paine writes:

It has been the folly of Britain to suppose herself more powerful than she really is, and by that means has arrogated to herself a rank in the world she is not entitled to...

How about returning the house of representative to the people?

Return the House of Representatives to the People!?

435 "politicians" can NOT faithfully represent a population of 305,000,000 US citizens. This is the stance maintained by thirty-thousand.org. ThirtyThousand.org is a non-partisan and non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to representative democracy in the United States of America and argues that the number of representatives in the House must be increased substantially. I recommend that all US citizens read the short list of questions and arguments at the link above. ThirtyThousand.org introduces their arguments with respect to the intentions of the framers of the constitution and the bill of rights. While I am a proponent of understanding, learning from and considering the intentions of our founding fathers, I am also a proponent of progressive and dynamic government. It is impossible that our founding fathers could have foreseen all the issues that the United States of America has since and will yet come to face. Fortunately, our founding fathers had the foresight to bestow an inherent ability to amend the constitution upon the citizenry. The nature of viability and of life itself is that of change and of growth. That which becomes static and ceases to grow wanes towards death! Notwithstanding, the government of The United States of America. For this reason, I find the arguments and suggestions for improvement at ThirtyThousand.org stimulating. I would like to draw particular attention to the discussion of questions 6, 7, 9 and 10. The citizens of the United States of America should not and can not assume that any aspect of it's government does not necessitate improvement nor that any element is immutable!