Thursday, July 19, 2012

The Constitution provides a means for change.Of course,that means is the amending process. Hence, if it becomes necessary,the document can be changed.One need only see the number of Amendments to see how often that has occurred. That process is set forth in the Constitution. I have pointed out that the structure of government set out was triadic,i.e. three branches. One Branch governs, another Legislates law, and another Adjudicates the issues arising with respect to the structure. Hence, the need for flexability of structure.However, these changes only effect the basic structure and that structure is , of necessity, abstract. But we have said that the bottom of the triad is the essence of government and that the bottom was 'number' because democracy must include everyone. Democracy is an equation and everyone must be included. A general,verbal,abstract statement of freedom and equality will not suffice. The reason for that is usually the 'wiggle room' allowed within the play of abstractions; especially general abstractions. So what happens to the real people at the bottom? The abstract top can be changed by provisions in the Constitution, but those changes are usually brought about by the top and the changes are abstract and at the top. What about changes emanating from the essence of democracy? Well, the Founding Fathers of a flexible Constitution also provided for changes to be brought about by the bottom. That provision is the First Amendment. The right to "assemble" and "petition the government for a redress of grievances". You can read that any way you want; you can have as much 'wiggle room' as you want: THAT is the Right to revolution. The Fathers crafted a Constitution of "We the People" and could not deny the real people at the bottom, the right to make their voices heard. To deny the voice of the people would be to return to the Confederation where the States governed. That period was a mess. Unfortunately, the remnants of that attitude are still with us. The Constitution is a people constitution; it is they who govern: they, in exercising their Constitutional rights, who should be the beneficiaries of real democracy. They have the Constituional Right to revolt. Revolutions cannot occur at the Top; those are abstract changes; nothing real has changed, only the way we talk about it has changed. If the Top allows it, there might be a change,but its unlikely.Too much wiggle room. Real change can only occur with a real revolution.

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Democracy For The Bottom by Gilbert Gonzalez is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.