Once upon a time men of thirteen colonies declared there should be no taxation without representation. They had grown tired of an entitled distant group dictating policy that limited their freedom to define their own course. Ignored by the ruling class, the thirteen colonies declared their independence. Independence was relative. Women were chattel and slavery was the law of the new land. Freedom was proscribed.
Those founding fathers overlooked the irony, and continued the corruption that predated their independence. Now however they lined their own pockets…which was righteous. The founding fathers rejected the model of government that suppressed their opportunity to accept bribes and make laws that favoured their friends. They created a system of checks and balances, believing they had a superior system that would prevent oppression by a ruling class to ever occur again.
They institutionalized oppression of all but the male land-owning class. The new system was as open to corruption as the previous. Most importantly they made it virtually impossible to rid themselves quickly of a government that was ineffectual.
Two hundred and some years later. Some wrongs have been righted. Women can vote, slavery is abolished. But a 4 year term has become ineffectual after two years. Lame duck has become a descriptor and special interests buy votes.
Democracy is a myth in America.
