Are our elections and politicians being bought and sold to the highest bidder? Does one have to sell off one’s soul to serve in public office? Can a single vote still make a difference? Does the “American Dream” still exist?
Democracy as we know it has undergone a metamorphosis as the result of the money from special interest. Members on both sides of the aisle appear to be beholding to corporate, religious and ethnocentric special interest groups. As a result, traditional party values appear to have taken a backseat to new interests from those whom are willing to contribute the most money.
In this day and age one cannot necessarily have a dissenting political opinion without being labeled as unpatriotic by the ruling majority? We have been inundated by the politics of fear. This in turn has allowed us to knowingly and willingly hand over our civil liberties to those who know best how to protect us - the federal government. Warrant less wiretaps and data mining is a stark reminder of what can occur when one branch of government becomes more powerful than its counterparts. There appears to be shift in our system of checks and balances by the executive branch, which if left unchecked could undermine our system of government and the rule of law, as we know it today.
Our country was built on the notion of separation of church and state. Our civil liberties afford us the right of freedom of religion and freedom of speech. A system of checks and balances was implemented by - “ we the people” - so as not to fall under the guise of a totalitarian regime, thus ensuring protection of our individual rights. Our politicians are supposed to represent us, the citizens of this nation who elected them, not special interest groups. Our government officials work for us - “the people.” Maybe it’s time for them to be reminded of this fact in this election year. Isn’t that what democracy is all about?
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The founding fathers understood this phrase when implementing a system of checks and balances within the framework of our democracy, thereby protecting that which we as Americans cherish most..... our civil liberties. This system of checks and balances has been put to the test on many occasions and has always somehow managed to survive.
Since 9/11, we have witnessed a covert assault on our civil liberties through passage of the Patriot Act, The Military Commissions Act of 2006 and the Protect America Act of 2007. Warrantless wiretaps, data mining of our e-mails and national security letters have become intrusions into are private lives. Is “Big Brother” watching you! Has George Orwell’s fictional story become a reality? Is democracy still alive and well in 2008?
The Concrete Jungle explores fundamental democratic principles. Its intent is to challenge its audience by posing such simple questions as: Is the United States Constitution as our forefathers intended to be, being upheld?
It is said that art imitates life. It is also said “ History repeats itself.” The Concrete Jungle in many ways is a snap shot of current trends and contemporary issues in American Society. However, what we are experiencing in the now, we have seen in the past. One may recall Senator Joe McCarthy and the “Red Scare.” Democracy is a living and breathing entity that must be nurtured and cherished. In many ways it is fragile and must be protected from those whom want to see its demise. Like a plant, it must be watered and properly maintained in order to flourish.
The Concrete Jungle is like a jig saw puzzle on Civics. It is multilayered and multidimensional. I leave up to the audience to question and begin to discover if democracy is alive and well in 2008. As American citizens, our “Civil Liberties” afford us the right to question and speak up. Please do ......
How quickly life passes us by. When we are children, we are wide-eyed, innocent, optimistic and carefree looking towards the future. At the end of our lives, we reflect back on our past, often times wanting to recapture our youth and or undo our mistakes. We might also contemplate, how the events of history mimic the natural cycle of life and death (i.e.. history repeats itself). Time stands still for no one and it often seems that a lifetime of memories are created by a blink of an eye!
As Dickens noted about an earlier era, “it was the best of was times, it was the worst of times…”, testing our core fundamental principles, our humanity and our resolve. We witnessed in all its splendor, ”one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” We heard a young president challenge his fellow Americans to consider “…what you can do for your country.” We would bare witness to the loss of three iconic figures whose ideals, senses of decency and fairness represented what was best with our nation; inspiring us, encouraging us, they opened up our eyes to the possibilities during times marred by uncertainty and civil unrest.
The horrors of war far removed would be felt and seen in our own living rooms, mobilizing the youth of our nation to engage the establishment in protest. Through music and verse, we would experience the hopes and fears of a nation struggling to find its way through turbulent times. The dream of equality would find its voice and would be transformed into a movement. That same dream would come to fruition 40 years later with the election of our 44th president.
There appears to be a disconnect between Wall Street and Main Street. There is an ever-increasing disparity between rich and poor. The “American dream,” a vision that has provided so many with that glimmer of hope and the promise of a better life, appears to be in jeopardy. America, once considered by most to be “the land of opportunity,” may be on the verge of decline, where opportunity is a thing of the past.
Most recently, we have witnessed firsthand the consequences of free market capitalism. With its lack of transparency and oversight and its deregulatory practices, we have seen the greatest financial collapse since the crash of 1929. Main Street has been hit hardest, with rising unemployment, record foreclosures, stagnant wages, and an ever-increasing number of bankruptcies. On the other hand, AIG, Goldman Sachs, and many other large foreign and domestic financial institutions received a federal bailout at the expense of the American taxpayer. These institutions and their respective CEOs have been able reap the benefits even in a financial downturn while the average working class taxpayer has been left to fend for himself.
There has been a struggle between free market capitalism and democracy since the founding of our great nation. Even Jefferson knew and understood that “representational government was necessary in order to curb the monied interests.” During the industrial revolution, Teddy Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” created a peaceful coexistence between industry and labor. It enforced the Sherman Anti-trust Act, taking on the likes of J. P. Morgan and Standard Oil and their respective monopolies. As the result of the Great Depression, FDR initiated the New Deal, which through government intervention regulated the financial institutions and provided initiatives to protect the consumers and workers alike. It helped to establish and empower the middle class and propel the American dream to new heights.
Beginning with the “Reagan Revolution” under the guise of trickle-down economics, the struggle between free market capitalism and democracy entered a new phase. The signing of the Civil Rights act of 1964 had ended many discriminatory practices, affording equal rights, opportunity, and better wages to those individuals who had previously been exploited. An open border policy emerged with corporate America looking for new sources of cheap labor. The emergence of multinational corporations and globalization also resulted in the outsourcing of jobs, a tremendous increase in illegal immigration, and the weakening of organized labor.
With a revolving door policy between big business and government, we have seen over the last eight years legislation enacted once again deregulating the banks and many other financial institutions, which further indulged corporate excesses and greed. This would eventually lead to the current market meltdown in the housing industry, setting off a chain of events causing the country to go into an almost unprecedented recession.
It is quite obvious that history has a tendency of repeating itself. That being said, the pendulum will hopefully swing the other way, once again finding some sort of peaceful coexistence between unregulated free markets and that system of checks and balances we know so well as DEMOCRACY.
Democracy is a living, breathing entity which must be cherished and nurtured. It is up to us - “We the People” - through representational government, to curb the monied interests, thereby preserving and protecting the rights of the average citizen and ending this culture of corruption and greed.
“We the People...” “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...” “And Justice for All”... These fundamental democratic principles and values have made our country great and have set an example for the rest of the world. It is the reason that so many individuals who are oppressed or live in closed societies seek refuge within our borders. Democracy provides a glimmer of hope that one can transcend and create a better life full of promise and opportunity; hence, the phrase the “American Dream.”
Our great democracy was founded on an ingenious system of checks and balances to protect our individual rights and to implement and maintain the rule of law. An equal balance of power was established between the judiciary, legislative, and executive branches of government to assure the citizens of our nation that we live in a free and open society. Oversight and transparency were brought into the equation to prevent an abuse of power from occurring and to maintain that balance. Democracy, like any other living entity, is subject to change and evolution. These changes can be both positive and negative, many times paralleling changes within our culture and society. But regardless of man’s technological advances and societal shifts, certain democratic principles and premises must remain constant in order to protect and maintain our individual rights, the rule of law, and to keep our society open and free.
On September 11, 2001, fundamentalist Islamic extremists outwardly attacked our great nation. But what would be much less apparent was that the inner workings of our democracy were to be laid under siege in a seemingly innocuous and covert manner. Soon after the Twin Tower attack, we would be inundated with a campaign of fear and introduced to such terms as “The War on Terror” and “The Axis of Evil.” Simultaneously, legislation, i.e. the Patriot Act, would be passed to protect our nation in this time of national crisis. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq would ensue. We would be introduced to the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and the Protect America Act of 2007. But at what cost to fundamental democratic principles? We would begin giving away our civil liberties out of fear. The public would soon learn about controversial government practices under the guise of the war on terror such as warrantless wiretaps, data mining, and waterboarding. Thus, there would be a subtle and covert shift in the balance of power by the executive branch, justified by the need to protect our nation and its citizens.
We have witnessed an executive branch that is secretive in its ways and believes it is above the rule of law, requiring no transparency or oversight. These abuses of power may be construed as very dangerous to democracy and should not be taken lightly. History has shown us over and over again how a free and open society with all the rights afforded to its citizens can be closed down in the blink of an eye. It is up to the citizens of this nation - “We the People” - to let our voices be heard with resolve and no fear, restoring the balance of power, protecting our civil liberties, maintaining the rule of law, and keeping our society open and free.
