America’s Road To Self-Destruction
Introduction
America is on a path to self-destruction. It will take several paradigm shifts to avoid self-destruction. The outline for a plan to avoid self-destruction is presented below; and is a framework upon which more rigorous and comprehensive project planning can take place.
AMERICA’S SURVIVAL PLAN
Mission Statement
To become the benchmark for successful participation in a global economy fueled by super technology.
Challenges
* America is a crippled republic because it does not know what Common Sense is, and does not understand how The Democratic Process works.
* To be successful in a global economy fueled by super technology you need to have a Superbly Educated and Healthy Workforce; we have neither.
* Both mental and physical stress can significantly harm the immune system, particularly when experienced chronically; making you more susceptible to getting sick. The cost and quality of Health Care is a major stress generator.
Elements Of The Basic Framework
There will be five basic elements to the project framework.
1. Common Sense
2. Political Science
3. Education
4. Health
5. The Democratic Process
COMMON SENSE
* A rigorous and comprehensive definition for Common Sense must become the core of our culture (i.e., Post #s 1&2).
* A rigorous and comprehensive curriculum for Common Sense must be an essential part of the Education Process (i.e., K-12); and a passing grade of A or B a major component of graduation requirements.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
* President George Washington once wrote: “A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important?, and what duty is more pressing than communicating it to those who are the future guardians of the liberties of the country?
* A rigorous and comprehensive curriculum for Political Science must be an essential part of the Education Process (i.e., K-12); and a passing grade of A or B a major component of graduation requirements. The curriculum should cover local, state, federal, and global politics; and highlight career opportunities.
EDUCATION
* A Universal, tuition free, Education Process must be developed (i.e., K-12, vocational, college, post graduate, adult learning).
* All curricula must be rigorous and comprehensive.
* If we want a superbly educated workforce, teaching must become the most difficult, most respected, and the highest paying career to achieve.
* Teachers of Technical and Science subjects must have related experience from the private sector. A practical system for movement from the private to the education sector must be developed.
* Development of the Education Process starts from 6 weeks into a pregnancy to 5 – 6 years of age; where 90% of brain development takes place. The bond between mother and child is a critical part of the child’s development during that period. A system must be developed that allows stay-at-home mothers to bond with the child during that critical period. Currently only 1 out of 5 new mothers become stay-at-home mothers. For most families financial stress forces the family to put the child into a Child Care Program because both parents need to work to make ends meet.
Some senior adults retire early for the sole purpose of watching their grandchildren so their children can avoid paying for Child Care. Retirement should not be a substitute for Child Care! Other developed countries pay a stay-at-home mother a stipend for each child that they provide care for during the critical early years. Those countries realize that children are the most valuable resource they have; the future workforce.
* The cost and quality of Education is a tremendous stress generator!
HEALTH
* A Universal, free, Health Care System must be developed (i.e., womb to tomb).
* We have Disease Care, not Health Care.
* The cost and quality of Health Care is a tremendous stress generator!
THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS
* Eliminate the Electoral College! One General Election determines the President and Vice President. We will never have a government of, by, and for the people, as long as there is an Electoral College.
* Transform Civic Ignorance into Proactive Civic Participation.
* Replace political parties with the People’s Patriots. Congress must become the House of Patriots!
* Make the retirement age for the People’s Patriots 65 years.
* Develop comprehensive job requirements for the position of People’s Patriot; an advanced degree in Political Science, twenty years of experience (i.e., five years in each of four levels of government…local…state…federal…global), and established morals and values.
* Make the participation in quid pro quo relationships between special interest groups and members of the House of Patriots a federal crime!
* Develop term limits for the supreme court judges; four five year terms, with a retirement age of 65 years.
* Supreme Court Judges, and replacement judges, are selected by a special Department of Justice committee.
FUNDING
* If we allow ourselves to “think-outside-the-box” there are numerous ways to fund the Paradigm Shifts required to create a government of , by, and for the people.
CONCLUSION
* We are at a fork in the road of American History. One direction takes us to a government of, by, and for the people; the other direction takes us to a third world nation. The journey to government of, by, and for the people will not be easy. The most important step of that journey is the first step; think and act as a Patriot. It is our duty to take that step because meaningful change never comes from the top down, it must come from the bottom up!
Patriot…one who loves and loyally or zealously supports one’s own country.
NO COMMON SENSE
ANALYZE THE EXAMPLE
* Which supports and barriers will be in play?
* What will the dynamics be?
* Who, or what, will win the “Tug-of-War”?
* Discuss the possible outcomes with your friends and family.
* Use Post #4 as a reference for the dynamics and relationships between supports and barriers.
