Perhaps because it’s been on my mind, this past weekend I took a deep dive into the US Declaration of Independence of 1776.  (If you haven’t done so in a while, or ever, you can read the full text here).

As it turns out, the complaints listed against King George over his governance of the US Colonies are not unlike the complaints of Americans today over what the US Government has become. Regardless of how one has voted in the past, it seems most would agree that what we have today is not the Representative Democracy we were once promised. Instead of “by the people for the people,” we have a corrupt system by the increasingly wealthy for the purpose of even greater wealth – all this on the backs of “the people,” where the people are left suffering.

Unless you are among the 1% of the 1%, I think you will agree that this corrupt system of governance is not ok, and that you are likely suffering the consequences of this corruption (too numerous to list here!). The good news is that as the current system imploded upon itself, there’s not a single thing we need to do to hasten its collapse. The government is doing it to itself. Quickly and irreparably.

While the system is busy destroying itself, what we can do is start dreaming, envisioning, and planning for what USA 2.0 might one day be. We won’t have to think too hard as we already know what we want. The original Declaration of Independence, as it turns out, said it quite well (with a few updates reflecting modern sentiments):

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all human beings are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among humankind, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Let me highlight one phrase: “from the consent of the governed.” 

This seems like a good place to start!  What is it that the governed want? I cannot speak for others, but I can speak for myself. Here is a list off the top of my head of what I would hope for in the creation of USA 2.0:

1. That all human beings be treated as equal and that diversity (race, religion, gender, etc. etc.) be honored and celebrated.
2. That all Americans have access to quality, affordable education. This includes pre-school through a 2 year or 4 year post-secondary education or vocational training.
3. That all Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare.
4. That all Americans have access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing, and that provisions be made for the poor and the vulnerably housed or unhoused. No one should have to live on the street.
5. The same should be said for access to safe and affordable food and water. Water should not be privatized. People should not suffer from hunger.
6. That our environment be protected, National Parks maintained, and mega-corporate ownership of private homes be curtailed.  
7. That neither war nor debt be the foundation of our economy.
8. Income and TAX REFORM!  No one needs to be, nor should they be a billion or trillionaire. (I have always liked Jesse Ventura’s flat tax idea!)
9. That every eligible voter’s vote counts. (It might be time to dispense with the Electoral College – and it is long past time to eliminate lobbyists, special interest money, and to come up with a just system for election financing.)
10. That the system of checks and balances envisioned by our forefathers and foremothers be restored and safeguards put in place to prevent the unchecked Executive Branch that we are witnessing today.

This is just off the top of my head. What is on top of yours? Let’s work together to envision something new. (PS feel free to email me privately: lauri@lauriannlumby.com if you don’t want to make your list public).