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Have we Created a Monster
With our Democracy?
Have we created a monster with our Democracy? Of course the founders of this country warned us that naive notions of democracy ultimately descend into rule by the rabble. That's why they created a REPUBLIC. For those who don't know what a republic is, it's a form of government that is rule by law rather than politics, is based on facts, and that protects the rights of individuals from the mob rule of current whims. But it's been a long time since we paid any attention to the founders.
Today we have a democracy in America where an unthinking majority which has been carefully programmed by the sound bites of the day can go to the polls and wipe out property rights, destroy businesses, cultures, communities and individuals. They can allocate public money to any cause that is currently popular and never have to present a budget to base the expenditures on. Is this what democracy is about?
To help the public with their current whims, we have faceless lifetime judges, many of them with agendas, who judge according to their personal philosophy. We have lawyers by the millions, the product of our higher education values over the nation they spend their lives writing reams of incomprehensible jargon that becomes the law of the land lawyers who buck the tide of tyranny by litigation remain in the backwaters of fame, or retire to write idealistic novels about those who seek true justice.
That is our democracy.
The lives of millions of Americans, their livelihoods and the lands are now dictated by those most proficient in the use of lawsuits. We have so many laws piled upon laws, that it takes the legal profession in private practice and government years to figure out which one they like the best. Shall we abide by the one passed yesterday or shall we ignore it and use the new one we got today? Or shall we make up a new one we like best of all? Take your choice.
In the name of democracy, all litigation is possible. It's the pastime of the hour. Anyone can find a lawyer to sue about anything. It is a form of discrimination that provides unending employment for the legal profession, while inexorably killing the economic engine that built America. Doesn't anyone wonder why everything is now made overseas? Never has the world seen anything like American Odemocracy' by litigation. New targets to demonize and litigate against provide endless potential for wealth and employment security for the legal profession and the chosen few. There's asbestos litigation, tobacco litigation, pollution litigation, litigation against logging, grazing and mining. Litigation against the medical profession, litigation against every manufacturer that once made something in America.
Litigation about unfair treatment of one race or another. Litigation about safety and health and welfare.
And what has America gained from our litigation democracy and the thousands of laws piled upon laws? What has it all accomplished?
Urban streets that have never been more unsafe. A drug war that is never won. Neglected children and sickening violence. More and more people struggling with poverty and debt. Overgrown forests and dried up water supplies. Shuttered manufacturing plants and rural ghost towns. The medical profession in shambles and costs out of control. Fraud and cheating and greed. Insurance costs breaking individuals and small businesses.
Preferential treatment for whites and Christians against other races and religions exchanged for preferential treatment of other races and religions against whites and Christians. What's the difference? Discrimination is discrimination.
Those we hire and elect to serve the best interests of the country are either incapable or too cowardly to govern responsibly because of the fear of demonization and litigation. Politics rule and justice is selective.
Though few will admit it, our litiguous and namecalling Odemocracy' has degraded into a monster that will destroy everything that is good and decent and just about America.
Unless the silent and discouraged heart of the country decides to stand strong for sanity and accountability.
Payson.cc © 2002 Carrol Cox
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