In a bid to rekindle the torch of democracy, a longtime federal executive explores the political discord that has so many people fighting with each another. If you're concerned about the future of the United States and the shortcomings of today's political system, then you're part of an ever-growing club. Author William W. Robé, who spent more than Forty years in the service of his country, is deeply disturbed by the lack of harmony within the halls of government. Social, economic, and demographic changes pose challenges, but Tea Party activists, Wall Street occupiers, and others are only making our problems worse. In this detailed commentary on the current political system, Robé considers a different approach to understanding American economics; truths about the national debt and deficit spending; two flaws in Adam Smith's original version of capitalism; and ways to find common ground on important issues. If the country's citizens remain divided, democracy will collapse. It won't be because of an invading army; it will be because of internal strife. Even so, it's not too late to rekindle the light of freedom through unity. It begins by recognizing that Divided We Fall.
Divided We Fall
Exploring the Keys to American Unity, Survival, and ProsperityBy William W. RobéiUniverse, Inc.
Copyright © 2012 William W. Robé
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4759-4297-2Contents
Acknowledgments...........................................ixIntroduction..............................................xiPledge of Allegiance......................................xvPart 1 The Cause for Government..........................11. The Quest for Freedom..................................12. Individualism versus Unity.............................73. Our Form of Government.................................154. Changing Demographics..................................245. The Great Depression...................................276. Winding Up the Past....................................32Part 2 The Effects of the Past...........................397. Carryovers from the Past...............................398. The Presidency.........................................439. Economic Elements......................................4610. Money.................................................4811. Taxation..............................................5512. The Domestic Spending Cycle (DSC).....................6113. Government Spending...................................6614. Deficit...............................................6915. The Fear Factor.......................................7416. Inflation.............................................8017. Employment Needs......................................8118. Collective Individualism..............................9119. Our Role in the World.................................9320. Environmental Issues..................................9721. Religion and Government...............................10222. Education in America..................................11223. Gun Control...........................................12324. How Government Works..................................126Part 3 Hopes and Aspirations.............................13925. Toward the Future.....................................13926. The All-Important Vote................................14027. The Electoral College.................................14228. Review of Priorities..................................14329. Needed Modifications..................................14530. Troublemakers.........................................14531. How to Improve........................................14832. The American Creed....................................15533. The End?..............................................156Part 4 Appendix..........................................159
Chapter One
The Quest for Freedom (What All People Hold in Common)
Oh, to be free! Free from duty. Free from responsibility. Free from the trials and tribulations caused by others. Free from rules, regulations, and laws. Unrestricted freedom—to come and go at will. To do what we want, when we want. To be subjected to no other human being. What a glorious dream! If one could only find such a life. One would have to be classified as a hermit, a leper, a loner, a social misfit, or perhaps a mountaintop guru or desert Bedouin in order to achieve such a high degree of freedom. The main question is: Can anyone live amid others and be totally free? Or is absolute freedom a myth—an internal siren song beckoning us to be individuals when in fact we are part of something larger than ourselves?
In holy matrimony the concept of two human beings uniting to become one might suggest that such an ideal situation is possible. In a symbolic gesture, the bride and the groom each hold a lighted candle. They go up to the altar and together light a larger candle representing their union. They then extinguish their individual candles, thus signifying that they are no longer individuals but are one in God's eyes. They are united. What a lovely thought. What a beautiful metaphor. It is little wonder that we cry at weddings!
Even in the best of marriages, the success of this concept depends on the couple's ability to give and to take. Each must be willing to give a little in order to strengthen the union. To do otherwise is to invite a strain in their relationship. They give up a portion of their freedom through love and not because of a law. Their loving partnership could weaken and will eventually become something less than a perfect union if one is always the giver, and the other is always the taker. Resentment has an ugly way of entering a once beautiful relationship.
When larger groups of unrelated humans come together to form a society, individual freedom must be sacrificed to a much greater degree in order for the various members to coexist in peace and harmony. During our Colonial and Revolutionary periods—back when people enjoyed more space and were not stepping on each others' toes as much—the need for rules, regulations, and restrictions was minimal. We must remember that the members of each colony held many moral and social views in common. The more we have in common, the safer we feel because of mutual understandings. Locks on doors and windows are less necessary. A simple handshake seals a business transaction. Jeffersonian thinking about small government was right for that time period, but alas, things have changed. (Our society is no longer a homogenous group of colonies but rather a blending of people from all over the world. What worked so well in 1776 has to be modified in order to keep up with those changes in our society.)
In their quest for freedom, the early settlers on the American continent tired of "taxation without representation" and rebelled. They wanted freedom from the English government—not freedom to run amuck. They wanted a government that was not oppressive and afforded personal freedom consistent with maintaining social order. Their craving has become our craving. As a result of the Revolutionary War, freedom is our heritage! It is now our birthright!
As we transformed from a rural to a more urban society, law and order with its many rules, regulations, and restrictions became increasingly necessary. This could be interpreted by many as a decline in individual freedom. The give-and-take associated with love and mutual respect must give way to obeying laws designed to maintain social order.
Part of belonging to a modern civilized society requires the ability to live in harmony with other human beings. We must allow others to seek their measure of freedom as long as they allow us that same consideration. It is once again a matter of give-and-take. It is being reasonable. It is being slow to anger and quick to forgive—or at least tolerate—the actions of others. This places restrictions and responsibilities on all of us as citizens and members of a society. Absolute freedom is a craving that can never be entirely satisfied if one is to live with others.
If we cannot have absolute freedom, then let us seek the maximum amount of freedom possible. The only way maximum freedom can prevail is through obedience to law. All laws should be enacted for the betterment of the common good. They must be fair, and they must be enforced; otherwise they are meaningless. A free society thus becomes a law-and-order society. Anything less will not guarantee a maximum amount of personal freedom. Toward this goal our government was established. As our population grows, the number of rules and regulations will, out of necessity, increase. A law-and-order government thus becomes the referee in the game of life so that one man's freedom does not become another man's enslavement. This is the essence of a democracy.
The vast majority of all restrictive laws, rules, and regulations stems from local governments via ordinances, permits, licenses, and similar restrictions. These local laws affect our daily lives much more than federal laws do. You will never find a federal marshal or an FBI agent handing out speeding tickets. Nevertheless, we lump all complaints about government together as if they stem from some form of Big Brother government. If a person wishes to be less restricted by government, he or she should move away from all towns or incorporated areas. Remember—the more the hermit, the greater degree of freedom! The larger the society, the more restrictions are required in order to coexist.
The word freedom means different things to different people. Some might consider themselves free if they are not in jail or a slave in bondage. For many others freedom is defined as having the ability to make choices. If there is no choice, then having the freedom to act is pointless. When there is a choice, then liberty/freedom can be exercised by selecting a course of action. Such actions can be considered either good or bad, depending on a given point of view.
It has been stated that a price must be paid for any measure of freedom. The maximum price would be the shedding of blood in order to fend off those who might attack our basic freedoms. To a lesser degree, we pay a price whenever we are forced to compromise our desires and demands. We can't always "have our cake and eat it too." We too will win some, and we will lose some. Such is the nature of a democracy. This is where politics and diplomacy enter the picture. At the end of each compromise, we should come away with the feeling that democracy was well served. There must be willingness on the part of those who did not get their way to observe the new, if less-desirable, rule or regulation. According to our Constitution—laws, rules, and regulations can be changed. In a democracy we must never give up hope for a better tomorrow.
Various radical groups demand liberty/freedom for themselves but are quick to limit the rights of others. For them, laws, rules, and regulations seem to be designed to keep others in check. During our frontier period, the law of the six-gun ruled—it settled many arguments.
The fastest and most accurate gunslinger won all disputes. Freedom reigned for those gunslingers, but everyone else became subservient to the "top gun." This is not what democracy is all about. Might does not always make right. Even a majority group cannot be allowed to prevail in its quest to dominate minorities in a democracy. If one believes his or her opinions are always right and other opinions are always wrong, one needs to look up the definition of bigotry.
As stated previously, a free society is a law-and-order society. Law and order give society a sense of security that shapes the destiny of a nation. We learn the limits of our desires and behave accordingly. We are mindful of the rights of others. We wish to live in peace and harmony. All laws, rules, and regulations are enacted by those elected by the people. This is referred to as representative government. We empower those elected representatives to do our bidding to the highest degree possible. They are our advocates, our voice, as they argue and debate our cause before their peers. The laws, rules, and regulations they enact should represent the common good and well-being of the people. Once a law, rule, or regulation is enacted, it should be obeyed; otherwise there is little point in having it on the books. Any law, rule, or regulation can be challenged through our judicial system. Every effort should be made to ensure that no legal actions detract from our rights as a free people. Failure to comply with a law could deprive a person of physical freedom resulting in jail time.
The Bill of Rights (the first ten Amendments to our Constitution) outlines our basic freedoms. Many societies in the world wish they could enjoy such guarantees. Does our government try to ensure that all citizens enjoy those same basic rights? Is our government depriving you of any rights? How do you feel about your personal freedom? Are you free enough?
When government enforces the laws placed on the books by officials elected by the people, is that an indication of a sinister "Big Brother Government"? Or is it a case of "we the people" attempting to live in harmony by securing a maximum amount of individual freedom?
In summarizing these comments on freedom, I have attempted to cover the following points:
1. There are many views regarding the nature and meaning of freedom.
2. Absolute freedom is impossible to find within a large society.
3. The larger the community, the more personal freedoms are restricted.
4. Law and order are required to maintain an agreed upon amount of freedom.
5. Government is needed to provide the required law and order.
One hopes that everyone is in agreement regarding personal freedom and is fully committed to guaranteeing others their rightful share. It was the cause that united our Founding Fathers. Now it is time to move on and discuss the importance of:
Individualism versus Unity
True individualism sometimes appears to be in opposition to total unity. In America we take great pride in declaring our individualism as a free people. In truth we are free only if we remain within the boundaries of our law-and-order society. We applaud creativity and ingenuity, while associating these qualities with those who might be considered geniuses.
We often admire the actions of a maverick or of those who think "outside the box." These feelings are but the reflections of one side of a coin. Often a maverick is nothing more than a loose cannon, a cowboy, or a nutcase. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish an undisciplined child from people in these categories. Such people can destroy unity and create chaos—while teams, choirs, and orchestras working in harmony can produce beautiful music. As citizens of a great nation, we should appreciate both creative individualism and the benefits of unity—developing the best of each in our quest for a more perfect union.
Individualism can be expressed in numerous ways without having an adverse effect on unity. People can dress differently or use makeup and hair dye to express individualism. They can surround themselves with articles that reflect their personality. They can decorate their homes and purchase unique automobiles for similar reasons. There are many ways to stand out in a crowd without being an eyesore! It is possible to belong to a group and still be an individual. We applaud individualism, which can be both creative and constructive. We should ignore the negative, self-centered, and greedy side of individualism.
As for the importance of unity—consider the following thoughts: The quest for freedom was the driving force behind the Declaration of Independence. The colonists desired to govern themselves rather than be subjects of a British monarch. All thirteen colonies realized that individually they could not overcome the might of the English army. They had to present a united front, acting as one if they were to have any chance of winning their independence. They named their new country the United States of America to show their solidarity. They knew the British army would be severely weakened if spread out along the entire Eastern seaboard of the North American continent.
Thus unity became the next major order of business in formulating a new government. This was a formidable task in that not all colonies had the same goals regarding freedom.
Southern states with large plantations demanded that slavery be allowed to continue, while the northern states felt that the practice of slavery was contrary to individual freedom and liberty. Had either side held rigidly to its beliefs, there would not have been a united front, and there might not have been a United States of America. It appears they reached a statesmanlike compromise that supported the wording of those early historical documents. One of the early acts of Congress was to pass a law that forbade the importation of new slaves into any state, with the hope that slavery would die a natural death over time. That idealistic dream was put to rest some four score and seven years later.
The importance of unity in our form of government cannot be overstated. "United we stand, divided we fall!" Abraham Lincoln understood that concept better than most men, since, in its breach, it led to the bloodiest of all wars (our Civil War). If an individual state or group of states could secede from the union for any reason, then our nation would soon unravel and collapse. Remembering the words in our Pledge of Allegiance ("one nation ... indivisible") is a reflection of our desire to remain unified! Lincoln, by signing the Emancipation Proclamation, made the words in our Declaration of Independence more meaningful and our Constitution, with its Amendments, less hypocritical.
Unity supports the concepts of strength and security. To maintain our current status as a superpower, we must remain united. The former Soviet Union was considered a superpower before its threads of unity began to unravel. When other countries become smaller, we actually become more powerful. Their fragmentation and disunity make them less of a threat to our way of life. Would we feel more secure if Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and the subdivisions of Manchuria broke away from China proper? Let us pray that they might squabble while we became more united in our ideals!
Unity means strength. Divisions are divisive! Setting nationalism aside for a moment, would the world be better off if all countries were united? Are there aspects of the United Nations that benefit all humankind while perhaps having a negative impact on individual countries? We will never enjoy peace on earth without countries becoming united in those basic principles outlined in our amended Constitution. Peace on earth will not occur during the foreseeable future, as we are a long way from having a united planet.
There are examples throughout the world (including the animal kingdom and "lower" forms of life) that show how unity brings about positive results. Working together for a common goal can lead to success. Disharmony results in failure and lack of achievement. When we tear each other apart through such actions as name-calling and lies, we are picking away at the threads of harmony and unity. We can thus become our own worst enemy. These are the seeds that have caused other great civilizations to fail—these would be the reaping of the enemy within. (Let us reflect on our present situation for a moment.)
A lone human has difficulty accomplishing major undertakings, but united with others who have the same goals and aspirations, he or she can achieve much. The history of the Amish, the Mennonites, the Mormons, and other groups, who work together in love and fellowship, provides examples of successful unification overcoming great obstacles. One need only observe a beehive, an ant colony, or a wolf pack to see examples of how other creatures have learned to work together for a common goal. World War II united our country to such a degree that we even surprised ourselves. We were caught up in a common goal to defeat an enemy on two fronts. We excelled, and virtually overnight we went from a sleepy agricultural nation to become a world power. We need to revisit that spirit of unity once again. Unity begot our freedom, and unity continues to maintain our freedom!
What keeps us from being a more united country? Why did the Founding Fathers use the opening phrase in our Constitution—"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union [emphasis added], establish Justice ..."? What is meant by the words "a more perfect Union"? Surely we all desire a perfect union—so why did they say a more perfect union? Did they realize that humans are not perfect and can never be perfect? Can we strive for a more perfect union but never achieve it, no matter how hard we try? It would appear that our Founding Fathers understood the complexities of the human spirit and chose those words carefully.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Divided We Fallby William W. Robé Copyright © 2012 by William W. Robé. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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