I was a back-room political party worker from 1986 to 1992 in Canada. I thought my involvement would somehow provide better governance. But as I gained more experience, I slowly realized that the primary loyalty of any elected politician belongs to the political party. The voter or the betterment of society is a distant second place.
Along the way I invented a new system of governance. And for the past 23 years, I have been trying to promote it with my rather limited resources: I belong to the “working poor.” My tribulations are summarized in one the many great quotes of this article:
The only way to maintain a system founded on a universally despised principle (the rich get what they want and everyone else gets whatever is left over) is to inundate the public with the notions that 1) no alternative exists; 2) to pursue alternatives is irresponsible and dangerous; and 3) most people agree with notions 1 and 2. This exercise in culture management is accomplished by an endless stream of commentary from corporate TV, print and online media outlets.
I have been on Medium for almost a year, with the ulterior intent of promoting my concept. I think I maybe I got a handful of Medium people to read most of my book, fulfilling the Mr. Echievarri #1 requirement: no alternative exists, so why look for one — even when someone suggests there is one. Of that handful, only a couple got back to me stating that my concept is unworkable, fulfilling requirement #2.
About two-thirds the way through his essay, Mr. Echievarri then falls into his own #1 and #2 traps. He seems to support Bernie Sanders — which means he has left the concept of the political party well in place. He too cannot think about an alternative system of democratic governance. Electing Bernie is his only solution to fix America.
Mr. Echievarri then alludes to USA moving past Donald Trump.
. . . then in the not-too-distant-future Donald Trump is going to look like a PG-13 warm-up act.
“He was a bigoted, hateful narcissist who waged a merciless corporate war on most of the country,” they’ll say. “But at least he was kind of funny.”
Great conclusion, but wrong conclusion. Mr. Trump is a warning shot across the bow. The next populist American president, who could come from the political left, will not be funny.
So here is my challenge to readers of Mr. Echeivarri’s article. Do you believe in his #1 (no alternative exists)? Do you believe in his #2 that any alternative would be too disruptive?
In that case, you have been inculcated into thinking what the powerful forces of western democracy want you to think.
If you are not so inculcated, then it’s time to give an alternative system of governance serious consideration.
