Preface: The System is Broken – It’s Time for a Political Revolution (DRAFT)
Revolution is brewing in America. Crisis is upon us, we need change urgently, and we can not wait on political gridlock.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Right now, things aren’t working very well for “We the People.” We know that things are broken: Gross & growing income inequality, unemployment & underemployment, climate change, police killings, … the list goes on.
Our Government, which should be part of the solution, is now the biggest part of the problem - coopted, and corrupted by the rich, powerful and the seemingly insane. The table is tilted, the system is rigged, the level playing field, isn’t.
As our Declaration of Independence says:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, 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.”
Change is in the air. “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.” #occupy, #blacklivesmatter, #enoughisenough. Insurgents are challenging political establishments in both parties.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable. ..... John Fitzgerald Kennedy
We need a political revolution of millions of people in this country who are prepared to stand up and say, 'enough is enough' ..... Bernie Sanders
A “Movement Moment” and a “Political Revolution” are at hand. But this raises the immediate questions: Who are we? Which way to the revolution? What do we do now? And how do we do it?
This book attempts to answer these questions. In doing so, I draw inspiration from Benjamin Franklin – the father of us all – printer, inventor, writer, publisher, rabble rouser, instigator, and organizer. And, I attempt to follow in the footsteps of Bill McKibben – who’s journalistic coverage and books about climate change have spawned a movement and organizing hub at 350.org. May this book, and PoliticalRevolution.net build on that model.