Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Need To Change Basic Constitutional Structure of Government
RECEIVED Mon., Oct. 17, 2011
Dear Editor,
It is clear that the Founding Fathers of our nation developed a brilliant strategy in an attempt to balance power in our government when they set up the judicial, legislative, and executive branches to keep things in check. These devices have served our republic well. Subsequent changes in the last 200-plus years have tempered our government to be far more democratic than initially envisioned. No amount of foresight in the 18th century could possibly have predicted the immense power and influence that multinational global corporations can and have exerted on governments around the world today. True, the people in this country elect our representatives, however, these legislators seem consistently to bow to lobbying pressure from corporations instead of doing what is in the best interest of the nation and their constituents. I propose a remedy for all of the faulty, corporate influenced decisions made by our government. One that, if implemented, would definitely make our nation far more democratic. Legislators are currently elected by the population at large, and they generate legislation that can be signed into law by the executive. Let's add a fourth branch of government called "the people" to help balance the power structure from the tilted position it is in now. New process:
1) Legislators elected by people.
2) Legislation generated and passed.
3) Executive signs legislation.
4) Signed bill goes up for referendum by populace at large on an up or down vote prior to becoming a law.
We need this fourth step to check the homework of our representatives. Lack of oversight has put us in the position we are in now. What position is that? A country of, by, and for the corporation.
Many will consider this idea dangerous, and in the hands of an uneducated electorate, it can be extremely so. Better to flounder in an attempt to create a true democracy than remain a corporate slave forever. Someone please run with this idea.
It is clear that the Founding Fathers of our nation developed a brilliant strategy in an attempt to balance power in our government when they set up the judicial, legislative, and executive branches to keep things in check. These devices have served our republic well. Subsequent changes in the last 200-plus years have tempered our government to be far more democratic than initially envisioned. No amount of foresight in the 18th century could possibly have predicted the immense power and influence that multinational global corporations can and have exerted on governments around the world today. True, the people in this country elect our representatives, however, these legislators seem consistently to bow to lobbying pressure from corporations instead of doing what is in the best interest of the nation and their constituents. I propose a remedy for all of the faulty, corporate influenced decisions made by our government. One that, if implemented, would definitely make our nation far more democratic. Legislators are currently elected by the population at large, and they generate legislation that can be signed into law by the executive. Let's add a fourth branch of government called "the people" to help balance the power structure from the tilted position it is in now. New process:
1) Legislators elected by people.
2) Legislation generated and passed.
3) Executive signs legislation.
4) Signed bill goes up for referendum by populace at large on an up or down vote prior to becoming a law.
We need this fourth step to check the homework of our representatives. Lack of oversight has put us in the position we are in now. What position is that? A country of, by, and for the corporation.
Many will consider this idea dangerous, and in the hands of an uneducated electorate, it can be extremely so. Better to flounder in an attempt to create a true democracy than remain a corporate slave forever. Someone please run with this idea.
Sincerely,
Tyler Miloy
Tyler Miloy
