Let's be clear.
First, our current system is representative democracy at its worst. It is democracy which no longer embraces or even considers the values, priorities, and will of the people.
Second, our corrupted -- dysfunctional -- democracy is not going to fix itself. The current arrangement very much suits those now positions of power. It rewards them generously and keeps them in their cushy jobs. That's why election reform, campaign finance reform, almost any reform which aims to democratize our faux-democracy and direct government service toward "promoting the general welfare", never gets serious consideration, and will never happen with things as they now stand.
This leads us to one conclusion. It's a conclusion which might seem extreme on the surface, but which tenaciously holds up to any real scrutiny, scrutiny which is genuinely rational and objective. The inconvenient and daunting truth is . . .
Those now in control of our legislative and executive branches MUST BE REMOVED FROM POWER AND REPLACED.
Petitioning, waving signs, calling into the black hole of their digital answering machines, even the occasional face-to-face meetings with our representatives, will not substantially change anything. Despite their inspiring rhetoric, award-winning virtue-signaling, and focus group fine-tuned lip service, the insulting truth is WE DO NOT NOW AND WILL NOT EVER INFLUENCE THEM. They nod and smile but are not listening. They only listen to their lobbyists, deep-pocketed donors, their handlers, their major party chieftains.
We will only get the representation we deserve when we get representatives who represent . . . US!
Most of the candidates running in each election are incumbents. There's an unspoken rule -- a presumption: We assume that they should be re-elected, unless substantial, earth-shattering proof can be found that they should not be returned to office.
Let me turn that rule on its head . . . because what I'm about to say is the only thing that makes sense.
Let's assume they SHOULD NOT GET OUR VOTES until they prove beyond a shadow of a doubt they deserve them! This means the BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THEM, NOT US. They have to make a compelling, irrefutable case for us to trust them, support them, and vote them back into office. Otherwise, they cannot be taken seriously. Otherwise they don't deserve our votes.
Of course, this applies across the board. It applies to every person running for office, just as much to the incumbents. A candidate MUST prove his or her loyalty to us, their future constituents. They must guarantee beyond any reasonable doubt that they will listen to us; serve us; devote themselves exclusively to promoting OUR agenda, the people's agenda; reflect, embrace, and promote our values.
There are citizens out there who are capable and willing to offer such genuine and truly patriotic public service.
But we won't find them on the ballot unless WE THE PEOPLE organize community-by-community, congressional-district-by-district, for senators state-by-state, and put them there.
The future of democracy is in our hands, the everyday citizens of this country.
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