A LIBERAL VIEW OF THINGS: Dissatisfied masts on the horizon
Our earliest memories of discovering the Earth was round probably came from a geography lesson that demonstrated the first things we’d see when a ship came toward us while at sea would be the masts, not the whole ship. We would test this using the big globe in the classroom. We got it. This example, of course, came from ancient seafarers who witnessed this phenomenon daily.
To carry this further, many ships affixed banners and flags to their mastheads for all to see. Sometimes, the approaching ship had to come fairly close before a seaman could read what was on those banners.
I think our ship of state should be scanning the horizons for the masts of an approaching ship fitted and sailed by the people of the United States of America. In this case, the ship of state includes the Congress and the Supreme Court as well as the president. They should carefully place their telescopes to their eyes so they can read the banners of the people’s ship as soon as possible.
The people’s ship on the horizon is not a man-o-war, but merely a galleon of hope and hard work, crewed by those who seek truth and fairness. Furthermore, the crew and its leaders are prepared to alert the ship of state in the distance that as the distance grows less, the message about to be delivered will become more evident.
As with previous times of civil unrest, the people are about to speak their minds based on their desires and dissatisfaction with the direction the ship of state is sailing. It is nearing the time when the writing on the banners will be revealed as one word: rebellion.
The people of the United States rebelled against British rule when it became oppressive enough to stifle the concept of freedom. Southern Americans rebelled and seceded from a union of states when they misunderstood the meaning of the Constitution and ignored the lessons of the Bible and common decency. That rebellion was abetted by the intransigence of Northern industrialists and abolitionists. Both of these rebellions were bloody, open conflicts of arms.
The ending of one of those rebellions saw a new nation born from strife with a Constitution that attempted to allow a democratic republic to flourish and grow with the times and events.
The second rebellion ended with a re-unification of the truncated nation with new amendments to the Constitution that tried to eliminate the causes for the rebellion. Both of these periods were very messy, contentious and upsetting to peace and tranquility. The “pursuit of happiness” was merely a glimmer for most Americans during these times.
The looming crisis of government we see today is quite different. Extremism is attempting to dominate reason. Greed is trying to usurp the voice from the majority of the people for its own ends. Leadership is virtually absent in our government; statesmanship is being replaced with shrill and childish partisanship that serves no one except those who have sponsored the people masquerading as legislators and political leaders.
Recent elections have served to do little to change this atmosphere of dysfunction. The only “new blood” in Congress has come in the form of a radical fringe that is controlling a major political party in spite of its minority status. The Tea Party actually filled the void of leadership on the political right. While politicians from both ends of the spectrum lined up at the corporate trough, the tea party actually served different masters: their constituents.
Wouldn’t it be great to return to those days when mainstream political parties actually answered to their constituents? Maybe it’s time to invoke Article V of the Constitution that allows the people and Congress to make and implement amendments to the Constitution. Times have surely changed since the last one as corporate/banking America has usurped the election process and rendered the people’s voices mute. Perhaps it’s time to remove corporate money from the selection and election processes. We’re allowed to do that. The Constitution gives us that right and power.
If we do this, maybe the banners on the masthead of the people’s ship will read: “We are in charge of responsible government.”
Turner is a retired teacher and industrial engineer who lives near Marble Falls. He is an independent columnist, not a staff member, and his views do not necessarily reflect those of The Tribune or its parent company. "The Voter’s Guide to National Salvation" is a newly published e-book from Turner. You can find it at www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks. He can be reached by e-mail at vtgolf@zeecon.com.