A Brand New Spirit

236 years ago, the Founding Fathers decided that the parliamentary rule of the British empire was unacceptable. It is time once again for an improvement to the manner in which officials conduct the affairs of our homeland

By Antonio "Tone" Stone

Our system of government is outdated. Don't get me wrong, democracy by definition, meaning that all citizens of a nation as a whole determine public policy, laws, and actions of the state, is the only humanely appropriate form of government. And the Founding Fathers of this nation were absolutely sensible for selecting the democratic process as the way of this land, and for drafting a charter of supreme law that is meant to be adaptive and which has been a compromise since its origin. But the government of the United States of America has not kept pace with the times, or kept up with the culture of our society. This is evident enough in the ongoing battle for Presidency. The Office of The President of the United States deserves to be adapted into something more useful, more beneficial to all the people of this nation. While that may be, and until that is rectified, let me make clear that as long as there has got to be a President of the United States, there is no better choice than Barack Obama. There is currently no other candidate who is suitable. However, the role of President of The United States is a tradition that has long overstayed its welcome. The election of our country's first Black President was not a sign of progress in government, but rather, it was a testament of we the people's evolution in the better direction. Now it is time for us to bring our system of government up to date. Let's start with the President.

The best example for what seems like it would be the logical choice of a modern-day upgrade to our head of government essentially already exists. It was established in 1939 and is referred to as The Executive Office of the President of the United States. This is nothing more than the collective which are the President's advisers and supporting staff. As far as I understand a "head" is not simply a lone object like, say, a stone. For instance, our human heads are composed of our brains and the protective skull, eyes, a nose, a mouth, and ears, etc. All of which make the head completely functional. So it only makes sense that our head of government be comprised of different elements that would ensure it functions accordingly. The problem with The Executive Office of the President is that, except for a few having to be approved by the senate, those selected run the risk of being biased in favor of the President's agenda. And that is at the core of why our government is failing us. Time and time again, Democrats and Republicans duke it out for control of the powers established to govern our land, and pit one half of the people, figuratively speaking, against the other. And the winner always ends up attempting to force its ideologies and philosophies on the entire nation. But the purpose of government is to enforce legislation and practices that are fair and of benefit to the greater representation of the nation, with regard to any particular matter. And so in this day and age a more reasonable use of the executive and commanding powers bestowed on any person elected President of the United States would be to transform the Executive Office... and create a Presidential Office of the United States.

In the Presidential Office of the United States, instead of a President and a Vice President, there would be Presidential Statesmen, preferably 3 of them, all responsible for the administrative and executive powers vested in the President today. All duties currently designated for the President of the United States would be decided upon by all 3 Presidential Statesmen by a majority vote. The Presidential staff, advisers, ambassadors, czars, Chairs, directors and officers would be selected by these individuals with a majority vote. Any decision making powers granted to the President would be more rightfully and more democratically dependent on the Presidential Statesmen. No one man should be able to direct the nation to go to war, not even on a temporary basis. Furthermore, on a personal note, no one should even be allowed to be a candidate for a role as Commander-In-Chief without qualifying military experience. How can you lead people during war without previously proving that you yourself were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice of patriotism? In The Presidential Office of the United States the legislative power of veto would be shared by the Presidential Statesmen and used by their majority decision. A Presidential Office controlled equally by these statesmen to maintain some balance and keep each other in check would be more assuring to the citizens with regard to foreign policy, and Defense, and the State of the Union. Appointing federal judges, even with the requirement of Senate confirmation, could be less controversial and more efficient if nominees were selected more democratically in the first place. If the power to preside over the executive branch of federal government was divided among 3 individuals then one person's lack of good will would be less devastating. Let's face it, it's easier, and cheaper, to buy out one individual than it is to pay off 3. It's easier to convince one person than it is to persuade 3 different people, all with strong, contradictory convictions. We the people could be more comfortable knowing that whatever secrets are hidden behind executive privilege and state secrets privilege are agreed upon by individuals with otherwise opposing viewpoints. Which brings me to the point of how these persons should be elected.

Ideally these Presidential Statesmen would be made up of one Democrat, one Republican, and one Independent representative. Simply put, the primary elections already exist to identify the cream of each respective crop. In this scenario we have 3 individuals with contrasting beliefs made to compromise on executive decision making for the sake of a nation. The current salary of the President and Vice President would be combined and distributed equally to the 3 Presidential Statesmen. Making money will never be a worry for people of this stature. I'd like to suggest that those candidates who are already quite wealthy individuals be presented with the option to decline their government salary and designate it for some more worthy cause, if they could find a reason in their heart.

Of course, even under a new system of government differing political parties will still exist. There will always be more than one side to an issue. And the political scientists who make up our Congress, our Senate, and elected officials who represent both sides of our symbolic coins serve the necessary purpose of emphasizing the most important points of any matter, from each perspective, and drafting bills and proposing laws, and ensuring accountability, and managing the affairs of the nation with respect and consideration for all of the citizens who collectively make this a country worth fighting for. Quite frankly, with all the developments of modern technology, it should only be a matter of time before we the people are voting the legislation proposed by our Representatives on the national level into practice the way we vote for issues at the local and state levels.

Corruption is to be expected of mankind and anything man made. Therefore it is the responsibility of our government to stifle the likelihood of corruption by implementing an atmosphere to hinder any administration even resembling anything autocratic.

We the people are in need of a brand new spirit. Our government has misrepresented us in far too many ways. One of my major concerns is the shameful handling of the narcotics situation in our nation. If the government exists to benefit the people, it has not done such with its war on drugs. Overburdened people looking for a way to feel better are made part of a prison industrial complex and stigmatized as criminals instead of assisted and/or treated. Valuable police resources are wasted on ineffective drug-enforcement campaigns instead of maintaining the kind of presence in our communities that is necessary to deter real crime. Countless youth, and otherwise decent citizens, are penalized for essentially what is nothing more than capitalistic and entrepreneurial endeavors. The prison system is overwhelmed because of this, and taxpayers foot the bill. Speaking of taxes, and especially with all the attention on economy, there is much needed additional tax revenue and a lucrative job market staring America right in the face. With a brand new form of regulation on our country's drug issue, the government can re-strategize its war on drugs to better combat abuse and addiction rather than further victimizing ordinary people. It can diminish gangland violence by eliminating the vast market for them to kill over. And it can even improve our foreign-relations image by doing a valuable service to, and with, our neighbors to the south whose situation proves, perhaps more than anybody's, that the trade in drugs is business of the most serious nature and, in one way or the other, inevitable.

A reform must come. I understand that perhaps nothing in life is perfect. But a government of the people, for the people, by the people needs to be as close to perfect as is possible. All it will take now is a brand new spirit.

"...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness..."

Copyright 2012 Antonio "Tone" Stone A.M.H