The United States is not a Democracy. That is a misnomer we have been raised to believe, though why is a mystery. We are a Republic, though even that is too simplistic. It essentially means we are a federalist nation who elects those to perform governmental tasks such as making laws, via an electorate body of people, selected to be our agents and to represent our interests during elections.
Democracy and federalism define types of government and distribute of power. But there are three more types of government that describe our form of government, which our Founding Fathers debated. One can read more about the US type of governance here: American Form of Government
The three additional subtypes of government are: 1) martial 2) religious 3) commercial.
The original 13 Colonies favored a religious form of governance on a federalist level. A small central US government where states could form an individualist, religious form of state government. Each state with it's own independent religion. Havens.
This would include atheists, such as the story of the "Maypole of Merrymount", written by Herman Melville. Some see the story of Merrymound as a Wiccan/Pagan society. Others view it simply as an expression of freedom from religious doctrine. The latter is most correct as religious beliefs and morality were strictly enforced in Europe, and many colonists wanted freedom to decide for themselves.
Ancient Rome had a martial form of government, upon which much of our national philosophy is based. Ancient Israel had a religious form of government. Our Founding Fathers decided upon a commercial form of government.
Forms of government: what does it mean?
It simply means that the United States formed a federalist democratic form of government based upon commercialism whereby the chain of command is a state with individualistic citizens who vote for their state government, which the state government possessing their own state Constitutions, then works with the federal government. It requires cooperation, compromise, and acceptance.
The question many American citizens are asking is how well is our form of government working?
If polls are any indication, the answer is not very well. Many polls rate satisfaction with government below 50%. Having said that there is much in the way of reform never expected based on our experiences since the 1950's.In part based on the power of the World Wide Web (WWW), where communication between people around the world has exploded, the WWW gives people instant news and information.
Governments used to anonymity and an uniformed populace are now being forced into being transparent. At the same time much of the wealth of the US is contained with a very limited number of corporations. The American middle class is folding in upon itself. Since money is power the new Tea Party in the US is based upon wealth versus power, but this modern day Tea party excludes the poor and those of us just below middle class which is a growing segment of the population.
Still there is much that has changed and much evidence WE are winning.
Gay Rights has gained a significant foothold in America. Equally impressive is an end to marijuana prohibition, based wholly on anecdotal lore and unscientific claims, around 21 states now have legalized marijuana for medicinal use, and three states have legalized adult use of marijuana for whatever they choose to use it for.
Meanwhile the Federal Government stands firm on it's stance of Nixonian prohibition of marijuana, still insisting it has no medicinal value and a high propensity for extreme addiction. The federal government cites the fact that the FDA has not shown marijuana to be safe and effective, nor has it shown marijuana is not extremely addictive. The branch of the federal government designated to enforce drug laws, the DEA, continues to stonewall reform.
Despite this three members of Congress have signed on to present a measure designed to reschedule marijuana a Schedule Two, accept the decisions made by states in addressing marijuana use, which includes the three states where marijuana use is legal for adults for any use.
"The senators -- Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Corey Booker, D-N.J. -- are proposing legislation that would legalize state medical marijuana programs under federal law and reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act."
Although my own personal opinion is removing marijuana from being scheduled period, as it is a plant with many virtues, this is a bill with merit, as it is the first step towards righting a wrong that never should have happened in the first place. For that reason I wrote to my state Senators requesting they vote yes on the bill.
In the final installment for this post we will review, consider and deconstruct the responses from my state Senators, who will remain nameless - as their responses mimic similar responses from other governmental law-makers, most of whom seem to be out of touch with reality when it comes to marijuana laws reform.
It's almost as if on their first day on the job during a "Introduction to being a US Representative", they are told, "under no circumstances is marijuana to be discussed, considered for legalization, nor accepted as acceptable for public use".
The Federal Government continues to stonewall legalization efforts and to discount legitimate use of marijuana.
So what do members of Congress feel about moving marijuana fro Schedule One to Two?
Coming up next...
Democracy and federalism define types of government and distribute of power. But there are three more types of government that describe our form of government, which our Founding Fathers debated. One can read more about the US type of governance here: American Form of Government
The three additional subtypes of government are: 1) martial 2) religious 3) commercial.
The original 13 Colonies favored a religious form of governance on a federalist level. A small central US government where states could form an individualist, religious form of state government. Each state with it's own independent religion. Havens.
This would include atheists, such as the story of the "Maypole of Merrymount", written by Herman Melville. Some see the story of Merrymound as a Wiccan/Pagan society. Others view it simply as an expression of freedom from religious doctrine. The latter is most correct as religious beliefs and morality were strictly enforced in Europe, and many colonists wanted freedom to decide for themselves.
Ancient Rome had a martial form of government, upon which much of our national philosophy is based. Ancient Israel had a religious form of government. Our Founding Fathers decided upon a commercial form of government.
Forms of government: what does it mean?
It simply means that the United States formed a federalist democratic form of government based upon commercialism whereby the chain of command is a state with individualistic citizens who vote for their state government, which the state government possessing their own state Constitutions, then works with the federal government. It requires cooperation, compromise, and acceptance.
The question many American citizens are asking is how well is our form of government working?
If polls are any indication, the answer is not very well. Many polls rate satisfaction with government below 50%. Having said that there is much in the way of reform never expected based on our experiences since the 1950's.In part based on the power of the World Wide Web (WWW), where communication between people around the world has exploded, the WWW gives people instant news and information.
Governments used to anonymity and an uniformed populace are now being forced into being transparent. At the same time much of the wealth of the US is contained with a very limited number of corporations. The American middle class is folding in upon itself. Since money is power the new Tea Party in the US is based upon wealth versus power, but this modern day Tea party excludes the poor and those of us just below middle class which is a growing segment of the population.
Still there is much that has changed and much evidence WE are winning.
Gay Rights has gained a significant foothold in America. Equally impressive is an end to marijuana prohibition, based wholly on anecdotal lore and unscientific claims, around 21 states now have legalized marijuana for medicinal use, and three states have legalized adult use of marijuana for whatever they choose to use it for.
Meanwhile the Federal Government stands firm on it's stance of Nixonian prohibition of marijuana, still insisting it has no medicinal value and a high propensity for extreme addiction. The federal government cites the fact that the FDA has not shown marijuana to be safe and effective, nor has it shown marijuana is not extremely addictive. The branch of the federal government designated to enforce drug laws, the DEA, continues to stonewall reform.
Despite this three members of Congress have signed on to present a measure designed to reschedule marijuana a Schedule Two, accept the decisions made by states in addressing marijuana use, which includes the three states where marijuana use is legal for adults for any use.
"The senators -- Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Corey Booker, D-N.J. -- are proposing legislation that would legalize state medical marijuana programs under federal law and reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act."
Although my own personal opinion is removing marijuana from being scheduled period, as it is a plant with many virtues, this is a bill with merit, as it is the first step towards righting a wrong that never should have happened in the first place. For that reason I wrote to my state Senators requesting they vote yes on the bill.
In the final installment for this post we will review, consider and deconstruct the responses from my state Senators, who will remain nameless - as their responses mimic similar responses from other governmental law-makers, most of whom seem to be out of touch with reality when it comes to marijuana laws reform.
It's almost as if on their first day on the job during a "Introduction to being a US Representative", they are told, "under no circumstances is marijuana to be discussed, considered for legalization, nor accepted as acceptable for public use".
The Federal Government continues to stonewall legalization efforts and to discount legitimate use of marijuana.
So what do members of Congress feel about moving marijuana fro Schedule One to Two?
Coming up next...