I recently participated in a session of “Cocktail Judaism”—an activity sponsored by Indianapolis congregation Beth El Zedeck for members interested in exploring current issues in the context of Jewish values. The environment is informal; congregants meet at a local restaurant on a weekday evening, and various “experts” are invited to lead the discussion.
On this particular evening, I shared the microphone with my more knowledgeable cousin, Jeff Smulyan, CEO of Emmis Communication. We were asked to facilitate a discussion revolving around a question posed by Rabbi Dennis Sasso: What does it mean to be an American, and how will the answer to that question matter to the 2020 election?
I argued that–at the very least—being American requires understanding, supporting and protecting two essential elements of our country’s version of liberal democracy–majority rule and its libertarian brake, aka the Bill of Rights.
In order to protect the legitimacy of U.S. government, we need to address the escalating assaults on majority rule: Gerrymandering (the practice whereby legislators choose their voters, rather than the other way around); the growth of vote suppression tactics (everything from voter ID laws to the spread of disinformation); the disproportionate influence of rural voters thanks to the operation of the Electoral College; the current (mis)use of the filibuster, which now requires a Senate supermajority to pass anything; and the enormous influence of money in politics, especially in the wake of Citizens United.
In order to protect individual liberty– i.e., the constraints on majority rule required by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment–we need to reinvigorate and protect the libertarian principle that animated the nation’s Founders: the right of all people to live as they see fit, so long as they do not thereby harm the person or property of others, and so long as they are willing to grant an equal liberty to others. That “live and let live” principle doesn’t just require us to limit government over-reach; it requires that we combat racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, misogyny, Islamophobia…all of the “isms” that deprive some citizens of equal civic status and that deny them the full expression of their individual liberties.
Understanding and protecting both majority rule and individual rights requires an informed citizenry–and an all-out assault on civic ignorance and apathy.
In response to a question from Jeff, participants indicated their concerns about a wide range of issues: gun control, the environment, health care, reproductive rights, the Supreme Court…an important litany with which we’re all familiar. These are all, admittedly, absolutely critical issues.
That said, I’ve become increasingly convinced that 2020 is about America’s structural and systemic distortions—that our first order of business must be to confront the misuses of power that make fair and productive political debate about substantive issues impossible. These failures of American governance need to be addressed before any of the policymakers we elect will be able to discuss, let alone pass, rational, evidence-based policies.
You can’t drive a car if it’s lost its wheels, and you can’t govern if your institutions have lost their legitimacy.
Unless the systems are fair, no minority of any sort–political, religious, racial, economic–is safe.
America’s Constitution was all about checks and balances and the rule of law. Until we eliminate systemic corruption and return our government to those foundational operating principles, we aren’t Americans—we’re just an assortment of contending constituencies who happen to occupy the same nation-state.
“…2020 is about America’s structural and systemic distortions—that our first order of business must be to confront the misuses of power that make fair and productive political debate about substantive issues impossible. These failures of American governance need to be addressed before any of the policymakers we elect will be able to discuss, let alone pass, rational, evidence-based policies.”
“America’s Constitution was all about checks and balances and the rule of law. Until we eliminate systemic corruption and return our government to those foundational operating principles, we aren’t Americans—we’re just an assortment of contending constituencies who happen to occupy the same nation-state.”
Article I of the Constitution of the United States of America provided the Legislative Division of our government with the power and the RESPONSIBILITY to prevent one man/woman in Article II from ruling the country as a monarch. The current “systemic corruption” is controlled by one man in the Senate, Mitch McConnell; whose actual position of power is below that of the President, Vice President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and yet he rules the country with his archaic set of lack of morals and values from past centuries. He is, in effect, the ruling monarch while Trump is the titular president; between the two they hold Article III of the Constitution, the Judicial Division, in their clutches.
“Are We Americans…” As an “…assortment of contending constituencies…” we must unite by standing together to return to democracy, Rule of Law and upholding the Constitution. Can we do this as we watch the Democratic presidential nominee wannabes insult, backbite and make ugly accusations against one another on the public stage? We fought a Civil War to maintain this country’s Union. I don’t recognize anything in the current political civil war as being American…from either party. Maybe a session of “Cocktail Democrats” would be of benefit to all of us.
IMHO there are two candidates who have managed to stay above the fray and seem more interested in good policy. They are Warren and Buttigieg. Both are impressive and each would make a good candidate.
Peggy, agreed!
I think we need to stop dancing around the real problem. We are facing a corporate take over of the powers of the state. This used to be called fascism. Now it is trumpism. The super wealthy, the Kochs, Mercers, Waltons and the lot, are using their entertaining clown, trump, to destroy democratic limits on their ability to extract more wealth for themselves from the resources and people of this country. Democracy puts limits on their ability to accumulate money and power and they hate it.
So come on folks let’s stop beating around the bush and call it what it really is, a fascist coup in progress.
Sheila,
Excellent,
Thank you
When I lived in the Mexico of the 80s I learned why the corruption of both the people and the government was so rampant and well known and completely accepted. It was because the government was not legitimate and everyone accepted that it was merely the means by which the wealthy got more wealthy and the the poor were kept poor. As their culture is quite fatalistic it had become just the way things are and the game was to see in how many ways one could use that reality for their benefit.
While many saw the benefit of following us it was assumed to be not possible.
As I sit here I realize that we have the choice of following them or remaining what we have traditionally been.
I am more inclined to describe our government as a constitutional democratic republic rather than “our country’s version of democracy–majority rule and its libertarian brake, aka the Bill of Rights”.
The Constitution has all sorts of provisions, apart from the Bill of Rights, that make it something other than a “democracy-majority rule”.
For example, the Supreme Court makes many constitutional decisions that would never pass a democratic plebiscite, as does the President from powers set forth in the Constitution.
Further, if “democracy-majority rule” were in place there would be no electoral college, the Senate would have different rules, and States would not have the power to gerrymander or place restrictions on voting rules- all these being constitutionally derived powers (or so says the Supreme Court).
I hesitate to say this because you are far more learned on this subject than me and were perhaps trying to just simplify certain elements, but I just characterize “our country’s version” differently.
I think Geraldine gets Five Stars today. Period.
theres been a backlog on this subject,though we only seem to,protest sittingndown..where i stand we all should have been in the streets january 2016. we can see where the issues have been overwhelming,and we stand together,but social media will never replace human intervention,in protest in the streets. we demanded a end to vietnam,we stood in the streets,we barely made a voice with iraq,and bush. we further sat back and watched our country fold up into puddle of complaints. obviously,we either take back our goverment in 2020, or we just allow this to follow suit and accept our floundering into a enity of being commanded by wall streets rich to rule us,economically enslave the working class.. ill take the steet…and fight..if we allow our votes to again be gerrymandered into acceptance,we allow our democracy to be overtaken by people who delibertly subvert the intentions of liberty,for some form of greed,and deception. what a goverment that would be.im all for Bernie,but his ideals,will never come about in four years,its a matter of implementing them,as the people need them, not some wall street comeons who use money to decieve and rule. were way behind the game,and europe is in the same boat in some countries,and its a reflection of who we,America plays our game.theres really not much diffrent now,than a russian game of roulette. putin is getting his ass kicked,while germany sees the afd as a real threat to its democracy. and some of that support money is to do this is coming from banks and wall streets,and religious groups demanding change to further its bible thumping rules to suppress any liberal intentions,anywhere..without the violence,yet,i read where many in euro are demanding change,due the same issues the bigots have here..
Geraldene Powell:
I think we need to stop dancing around the real problem. We are facing a corporate take over of the powers of the state. This used to be called fascism. Now it is trumpism. The super wealthy, the Kochs, Mercers, Waltons and the lot, are using their entertaining clown, trump, to destroy democratic limits on their ability to extract more wealth for themselves from the resources and people of this country. Democracy puts limits on their ability to accumulate money and power and they hate it.
So come on folks let’s stop beating around the bush and call it what it really is, a fascist coup in progress.
OMG
I’ve been calling it what it is for over three years: Christofascism. The world as we knew it has come down to this with the help of the Religionists, some called Republicans. The voting booths in 2020 are our last best chance to rescue our crippled heritage. VOTE to clear the air of trumpism. His machine is going to try to buy the election, you know, and they have the resources to do it and the fangs to scare you.
Don’t be lulled by snake-in-the-grass Pence who has slithered in with his phony piety.
I agree with Geraldine’s excellent analysis today. She’s right; let’s quit beating around the bush. Corporatism as currently practiced is the problem; fascism the end – so what (other than a changing of the political guard) are we going to do about it? Just talk? Pretend that the corporatists have a legitimate plan that in practice would be for the common good? It’s not enough to win the election; it’s time to win its aftermath.
Either I failed to click on “Post Comment” or my comment was taken down . Let’s see what happens if I copy and paste it here to post it:.
Geraldene Powell:
“I think we need to stop dancing around the real problem. We are facing a corporate take over of the powers of the state. This used to be called fascism. Now it is trumpism. The super wealthy, the Kochs, Mercers, Waltons and the lot, are using their entertaining clown, trump, to destroy democratic limits on their ability to extract more wealth for themselves from the resources and people of this country. Democracy puts limits on their ability to accumulate money and power and they hate it.
So come on folks let’s stop beating around the bush and call it what it really is, a fascist coup in progress.”
OMG
I’ve been calling it what it is for over three years: Christofascism. The world as we knew it has come down to this with the help of the Religionists, some called Republicans. The voting booths in 2020 are our last best chance to rescue our crippled heritage. VOTE to clear the air of trumpism. His machine is going to try to buy the election, you know, and they have the resources to do it and the fangs to scare you.
Don’t be lulled by snake-in-the-grass Pence who has slithered in with his phony piety.
I agree with most of the commentary above. The only way that I can see to changing things in a legitimate way is not only to be sure to vote myself, but to encourage and facilitate the voting power of others. Voter suppression and gerrymandering have been potent forces leading to the present political situation. We must seek legal remedies to enhance the ability for all citizens to express their opinions.
Is there a difference between Corporatism and Aristocracy?
Jews are international and use the literary language where they write. The largest Jewish library in the Western Hemisphere is located in Cincinnati free soil. Judaism is not about partisan Hoosier politics; nor is America. There is only one America continentally. Indiana was the 14th State formed after 1492 — using the Roman Catholic records for business and banking dates. So where is the confusion of everyone else’s identity? We still cringe to hear substandard phone expressions, but do not doubt “they is” American parent teachers. America still is a Republic, same style of government as most of our business and banking allies now in the 16 English colonies by 1774, three unincorporated in this Republic. That some behave anti-Constitutionally does not make Christians fascists or 1930s majority rule New Yorkers, not Manhattanites.
Meanwhile, Classes every year from 1964 have had to deal with the union officials PARTY politics on the job. We may not know the Street addresses for Indiana government offices Health, Education, Welfare OR headquarters for the corporate officials of the leading Democrat, Republican, Green, Socialist, Libertarian adult-age correspondents in Indiana. They were not computerized until 1960 1040s were.
Look to those fascists at Indiana land domestically and territorially. Early Puritans came here chasing Catholics to lop off their heads and stick the skulls on fencing for 25 years or so, role models for exclusion of speech totally. Sic semper tyrannis or sic semper fidelis. As we all know, Christ is not American but is Jewish. Roosevelt popularized Democrat with speeches about democracy, not fire and brimstone hounds of hell. So what does Judaism have to do with the geography of FACTS in evidence now? You do not need to label readers ‘Christo’ anything to back your candidates for pulpits where you preach, and fascist is reserved for fascists still. Since we take political refugees, we get people who hate each other trying to govern non-violently. Only recently have authoritarian personality types [jobs] begun to study effects of venomous words in only 5-7% vocabulary terms on speakers, as speech impediments. We already know such words can kill infants [withering], but we now tally up 2/3 of workers’ reliance on controlled prescriptions to do their jobs.
A primary rule for W131 and S121 is for a politician to give the appearance of being fair. I think the Hoosier partisans never did try to reconcile their differences after the 1812 Overtures!
Not only have corporations taken over governance of the United States, they are:
1. Forming and enlarging their own armies, navies, air forces, and intelligence agencies — over 300 corporate armies — not counting thousands of independent militias — are currently operational in the US. Their aim is to end the need to buy favorable legislation and replace it with the ability to force legislation. (read “Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army” by Jeremy Scahill)
2. Bullying and buying other countries around the world, especially in Africa, to get unfettered, nearly free of cost access to the natural resources of those countries. (Read “The Looting Machine” by Tom Burgis)
3. Plotting to create a country somewhere in the world that is not just a state controlled by corporations but a STATE THAT IS A CORPORATION. Once that is accomplished, corporate armies, thus encouraged, will take over every country on earth whose military strength and national income is weaker and smaller than the corporation taking over. (Read “Trophy State” by Larry Kaiser, the working title of my current novel, due for publication May of 2020.)
The above phenomenon is not a plot; rather it is an organic movement growing out of an environment made fertile for especially that kind of development. What is needed is a plot potent enough to prevent it.
Not all Americans are equal, and some do not deserve representation.
From an article in Common Dreams:
Civil rights advocates said Tuesday that The U.S. Supreme Court must restore a key provision of the Voting Rights Act after a sweeping new report showed how the court’s decision led to the closure of nearly 1,700 polling places across the American South.
Texas alone closed 750 locations, and 13 out 15 counties in Arizona—a state where 30 percent of the population is Latinox—shuttered polling places. Maricopa County, where 31 percent of residents are Latinx, closed more locations than any of the 757 counties the Leadership Conference examined.
In Georgia, where nearly a third of the population is African American, seven counties were left with a single polling place. Voters in Warren County, which is 61 percent black, saw 83 percent of their polling locations shut down while Lumpkin County closed 89 percent of its polling places. https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/10/democracy-some-not-all-report-reveals-nearly-1700-polling-places-closed-supreme?cd-origin=rss&utm_term=AO&utm_campaign=Weekly%20Newsletter&utm_content=email&utm_source=Weekly%20Newsletter&utm_medium=Email
The GOP like their Jim Crow predecessors will try every means to suppress the Vote. The GOP fears turn out and what better way to discourage turnout than to eliminate polling places and/or purge voters.
Perhaps your best ever, Sheila.
Sheila describes the means and Geraldine the ends. We must take control of the means to prevent the fascists from achieving their ends.
Mayor Pete has been saying much the same thing: that we have to fix democracy before we can fix much of anything else.
I guess I’m not quite as much in Geraldine’s camp as some of the others. This has been going on long before Trump — but probably never before in recent history has there been such an overt illegitimacy in all three branches of government.
Kurt; the presidential candidate debates have become that Circular Firing Squad President Obama warned the country against. Obviously; the Democratic party should have been warned against it; reports of the outcome of the insult based debates are no more encouraging to voters than Trump’s Tweets and so far have given us little reason to put faith in them to oust Trump. They provide no more of a united front to protect this country and return to democracy than Trump and his revolving door administration.
Sounds like a fascinating evening. Thank you for sharing – another great post.
Gold stars to Sheila and Geraldine. The Koch Brothers and their corporate partners in ALEC have produced ‘model’ state legislation for at least 10 years now to eliminate democracy in local municipal and school governments. That model was used to eliminate local mayoral and city council control of the water supply in Flint Michigan with disastrous results.
GOP State Representative Bob Behning from southside Indianapolis has been introducing a similar model for school government for years with state takeover of ‘failing schools’ (the state gets to define and manipulate pass/fail status as State Supt. Tony Bennett did with the charter school of his major donor). Behning works annually to expedite and broaden the definition of ‘failing schools’ which then can be turned over to private, unelected entities to manage (and loot) for profit. Publicly elected school boards are replaced by these unelected entities which have no obligation to abide by open records or open meeting laws. To further obscure transparency and accountability, these private entities fire employees wishing to unionize – employees who would be able to demand detailed disclosure of school income and expenditures if they were legally recognized to collectively bargain. Behning’s legislation (the Koch Brother’s ALEC model with few modifications) makes it easier for rip-offs like Indiana experienced with the Indiana virtual charter school claiming state tax dollars for dead and other non-existent students.
The profiteers would like us to think they want better education for students, but it’s about the money, and the means to that end is ending democracy as we know it.
Geraldine is right down the fairway and in the hole. So is Nancy Pappas.
From Todd Smekens:
“I think Geraldine gets Five Stars today. Period.”
Many have echoed this position and I agree. Todays blog is one I am going to print and give out. Thanks you Sheila