Pinthouse Pizza
'Our Undemocratic Constitution'
RECEIVED Mon., Feb. 22, 2010
Dear Editor,
Today’s politics displays a systemic problem. The recent retirement of Evan Bayh (go to NPR for a very cogent commentary by Daniel Schorr on the retirement) supports the view that America’s political system is dysfunctional. We have the “tea-potty heads” yelling, “The sky is falling” (i.e. socialism). They have no understanding of the words they use. They are just a group of less-educated “Lippertarians” who do not understand the feudal power of corporations. We have Democrats afraid of their own shadows (instead of standing and fighting for important issues) and Republicans being their usual jackbooted, goose-stepping selves. There is the “big muddle,” who are also called Independents and were recently the key in voting out a bunch of Republicans. They, according to the so-called polls, are now mad at the Democrats and ready to vote them out. Actually, these Independents are the most enslaved of all of the above groups. The flip-flop of Independents shows a lack of cohesion and ability to think freely. Instead, they just react. It would be wonderful if the Independents showed creativity by forming a third party, something that the tea-potty heads don’t know how to do. A good third party would support major changes – end the anachronistic Electoral College and support a national system of party creation and a public system of financing elections.
While I frequently agree with the substance of Louis Black’s “Page Two,” he seems to be a worshipper of our Constitution. Mr. Black should read Our Undemocratic Constitution by Sanford Levinson, a University of Texas law professor and constitutional scholar. Mr. Black might realize how many undemocratic features exist in the Constitution. As I have argued above, the Constitution prevents the creation of multiple political parties, leaving us with two groups easily manipulated by the “moneyed corporations” (Thomas Jefferson). Until the Electoral College is removed, until a national system of party creation is established, and until publicly financed elections are made the norm, we will be degraded by the dysfunctional political groups named above. Slowly, what few American democratic principles remain are being replaced by neo-feudalism. Corporations are the new kingdoms and fiefdoms of this “new world odor.”
Today’s politics displays a systemic problem. The recent retirement of Evan Bayh (go to NPR for a very cogent commentary by Daniel Schorr on the retirement) supports the view that America’s political system is dysfunctional. We have the “tea-potty heads” yelling, “The sky is falling” (i.e. socialism). They have no understanding of the words they use. They are just a group of less-educated “Lippertarians” who do not understand the feudal power of corporations. We have Democrats afraid of their own shadows (instead of standing and fighting for important issues) and Republicans being their usual jackbooted, goose-stepping selves. There is the “big muddle,” who are also called Independents and were recently the key in voting out a bunch of Republicans. They, according to the so-called polls, are now mad at the Democrats and ready to vote them out. Actually, these Independents are the most enslaved of all of the above groups. The flip-flop of Independents shows a lack of cohesion and ability to think freely. Instead, they just react. It would be wonderful if the Independents showed creativity by forming a third party, something that the tea-potty heads don’t know how to do. A good third party would support major changes – end the anachronistic Electoral College and support a national system of party creation and a public system of financing elections.
While I frequently agree with the substance of Louis Black’s “Page Two,” he seems to be a worshipper of our Constitution. Mr. Black should read Our Undemocratic Constitution by Sanford Levinson, a University of Texas law professor and constitutional scholar. Mr. Black might realize how many undemocratic features exist in the Constitution. As I have argued above, the Constitution prevents the creation of multiple political parties, leaving us with two groups easily manipulated by the “moneyed corporations” (Thomas Jefferson). Until the Electoral College is removed, until a national system of party creation is established, and until publicly financed elections are made the norm, we will be degraded by the dysfunctional political groups named above. Slowly, what few American democratic principles remain are being replaced by neo-feudalism. Corporations are the new kingdoms and fiefdoms of this “new world odor.”
Lamar B. Piboin Jr.
[Louis Black responds: Obviously this is a very well-thought-out letter. One of the things I like about the Constitution and have written about is its anti-democratic, pro-republic stance. Finally, from campaign finance reform to term limits, I have almost no faith that any major-fix panacea will work. One of the major problems with a multiparty system is that too often, small extremist groups wield incredibly disproportionate power because their few votes may be so necessary in building a majority coalition. But that's just my take.]