America is pictured as the land of
dreams. The vision of the new country is that a person can aspire and capture
dreams of a better life for self and for others. The Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution were written with this mindset in mind. The
president of the country was to lead the country towards this dream, the
congress was to pass legislation to make those dreams possible and the Courts
to insure there would be equal justice for all.
But the dreams are all tainted. In
the 1800’s they were tainted by runaway economics that pushed us from riches to
rags in violent cycles that unnerved the country. In the 1900’s the government
sought to control the violent fluctuations and provide a safety net of it
citizens and it worked pretty well.
In the 21st Century the
dreams seem under attack again. We know the figures that the wealth is
concentrated in small percentage of people who appear to have the means to
elect who they please and enact the legislation and removed legislation to
continue their dominance in the land.
Is that not the impetus behind Occupy Wall Street movement? The inherent
unfairness of the current policies of the land are being demonstrated against.
It seems a valid protest that the media was slow to report, but with its growth
now must report. And this group bears little resemblance to the Tea Party
movement, aside from disgruntlement. The Tea Party felt betrayed and left out
but they blamed the wrong people for the destruction of the American dream. They
were exploited by the very people who caused the fears and distrust.
We don’t need less government we need
more government that reflects the American dream set forth in the Constitution.
As citizens there are rights would should expect and demand. These are some the
rights I believe citizens should have. (our Bill of Rights needs augmenting for
today’s world.)
·
An
economic system that is fair and open to all.
·
The
right to health care of each citizen
·
The
right to bargain for fair wages
·
The
right to have a safety net to ensure all citizens can live a descent life even
if catastrophes happen in their lives.
·
The
right to fair election where each voice is as important as another.
·
The
right to age with dignity despite changes in economics.
·
The
right to as much education as each desire without undue financial burdens.
·
A
progressive tax system where those with the most pay the most.
And with these rights come responsibilities;
to name a few:
·
The
responsibility of being politically aware in order to vote intelligently
·
The
responsibility of care for fellow citizens.
·
The
responsibility to serve ones country (I would reinstitute the draft, but not
require the draftees to serve only in armies.)
·
The
responsibility to live within one means. (Our personal debt equals our national
debt.)
·
That
if you break the rules of society you must repay society for the damage you
have done (that does not infer incarceration.)
·
The
responsibility to speak fairly without malice and plain lying.
·
The
responsibility to treat all others citizens with respect.
I am sure that you can add to each of
these lists. But we need to dream, and then make every effort to capture our
dreams. May our dreams promote the general welfare.
Joel 2.28b “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will
prophesy, also your daughters. Your old men will dream, your young men will see
visions.”
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