The Problem With Self-Government: Self!

By Scott F. Paradis

With each succeeding poll measuring Americans’ trust in institutions the elements of government sink to new lows. As we move toward the 2010 mid-term elections we are seeing a groundswell of anti-incumbent fever.  Something is wrong; something is terribly wrong.  But let’s step back for a moment – this is a representative democracy after all. Where does the fault lie in our system of self-government?

The United States does not govern by way of a true democracy for good reason – as John Adams warned, “Democracy never lasts long.  It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself.  There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide.”  Instead the founding fathers settled on a republic as a means of rule.  They determined to walk a middle ground between the tyranny of the majority and the oppression of a sovereign.  James Madison offered, “We base our experiment on the capacity of mankind for self-government.”   The intent was that a free people, could, should and ought to govern themselves.

Ronald Reagan once affirmed, “This idea that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power, is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man’s relation to man.”   Well the jury is still out on this experiment in self-government.  Critics abound, attacking, for good reason, virtually every aspect of our current system.  A system intentionally designed to reach compromise slowly and uneasily.  The idea being that the less the Federal government could do the better.

After two centuries of maturing, however, power has increasingly centralized into the national triumvirate of the executive, legislative and judicial branches.  And, unfortunately (for the collective – not the special interests) the people who exercise authority in these three branches are now beholden to moneyed interests to sustain their positions and increase their power. The fault in our government can easily be placed on the “system” but remember, the system is made up of people.

Our experiment is one of self-government.  It is the motives of the people that determine the validity and vitality of the system.  Ultimately it is the individuals – both the elected and the electorate – that are responsible for government. The nature of the people drives the government.  We get the government we deserve, as the government is a reflection of ourselves.  The fault in self-government lies less with the government and more with the self.  Only a moral, righteous and just people can sustain a open, honest and honorable government.

Building on Winston Churchill’s assertion, “Democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.” we might say that social equality is dependent on the qualities of the social.  We have no farther to look than into ourselves to understand the dysfunctions of government.  Only if and when we get ourselves right will we be able to right the ship and govern to realize our fullest potential.

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Scott F. Paradis, author of “Promise and Potential: A Life of Wisdom, Courage, Strength and Will”

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