Still Longing for Peace on Earth

~~Still Longing for Peace on Earth 
By Roger Copple
August 19, 2014
In this essay the author discusses seven divergent political and religious groups.  In another second essay the focus is on why and how we should revise Article V, the part of the U.S. Constitution that tells how the constitution can be amended.  Then in a third and final essay, the author shares his vision of the ideal U.S. constitution, which shows how 26 changes can be implemented to create the ideal American society and world.  The author’s proposed constitution is called the Third Constitution of the United States, created after the Articles of Confederation and the current Constitution. 

There are many dystopian naysayers in the world who have given up on delimiting or changing the powers-that-be who are leading the world to destruction.  But if enough people start sharing and promoting a precisely defined vision, these ideals will become a reality and not a utopian dream.  Some of these ideals are already valued by others.  The following three essays are an expression of a sustainable worldview that can save the world. 

With such a vast diversity of worldviews in America, how can there be any kind of unity?  One major way is to radically decentralize the public schools by allowing the residents who live within the boundaries of every public elementary, middle, and high school to determine their own school philosophy and curriculum using public funds.  This will bring back the long lost sense of neighborhood togetherness. 

People who share the same worldviews will seek likeminded individuals as neighbors, and it will also cause diverse people to develop common dreams, as they live and work together.  This and 25 other major changes will be elaborated on in the Third Constitution .  But to make all these radical changes that can transform our society, it will be necessary to revise Article V, so that we can more easily amend the Constitution and more easily abolish the Constitution through an orderly and fair Constitutional Convention. 

Many average Americans across the political spectrum can be convinced that we must level the political playing field and take all money out of politics.  Our Constitution is extremely difficult to amend, and it does not tell how to properly abolish it, which was a big mistake our founding fathers made.  This means that lovers of democracy, who oppose oligarchy, will continue to be shackled by the Constitution and our current government; and if a violent revolution does not ultimately occur–the discontent, alienation, and hostility toward the system will only mount. 

What is now happening is the working class is increasingly getting a smaller share of the pie, the middle class is disappearing, and the rich keep getting richer. World crises and environmental degradation keep getting worse.  Based on current trends, the world is unraveling.  The first step in reversing this course of destruction is to revise Article V as proposed, so that we can develop a much better national constitution that is acceptable to the 99 percent.  This will be discussed more in the third essay.  The founding fathers wanted an entrenched system that is virtually impossible to change, and that is what they got. 

Accomplishing all of the goals proposed here may seem impossible to achieve, but as Americans increasingly see how to maximize democracy, create tribal neighborhood school districts and a tangible world peace—they will join the movement to make this vision a reality.  Readers are encouraged to think about all the things people said would never be achieved that were achieved in time. 

The first political group consists of the paleoconservatives; many of its adherents may not even use this long word to describe themselves.  Like the founding fathers who said our nation should not get entangled in the affairs of foreign governments, paleoconservatives are against the interventionist foreign policy of the neoconservative Republicans.  Members of the Constitution Party are probably the best representatives of paleoconservatism in today’s world.  The Constitution Party endorses 7 principles: life, liberty, family, property, Bill of Rights, states’ rights, and American sovereignty. 

Neoconservatives, on the other hand, believe that our government has a right, even a moral obligation, to police the world.  Though Republicans and Democrats have well-known, definable differences regarding taxes, general spending, and social policies, many individuals from both parties favor a neoconservative foreign policy.  And, by the way, the neoliberal foreign policy of the Democrats is roughly the same as the neoconservative foreign policy of Republicans.  Both are imperialistic.  It’s okay for the United States to intervene in the affairs of other sovereign nations, they reason, because we’re the “good” guys.   

For those who view the world as a place where dog eats dog, the neoconservatives are right.  But Buddhists, yogis, mystics within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and other groups that practice peace and nonviolence would say that, if we take the initiative in showing compassion and benevolence, other individuals and nations will reciprocate with corresponding sentiments, sooner or later.  Love conquers all. 

Paleoconservatives are socially conservative, so they are less likely to support gay and abortion rights and the legalization of marijuana.  They are usually against putting more restrictions on gun owners.
Paleoconservatives are quick to argue that our government is a republic with guaranteed individual rights, and it is not a democracy, they say.  They will inform you that the word “democracy” is not in the constitution because our founding fathers feared the “mob rule” of a democracy.  Democracy, or rule by the majority, is what you have when two foxes and a chicken decide what’s for dinner. Paleoconservatives will argue that our constitution was not meant to be a “living” document that changes with the times.  They fear a democracy that can take away their God-given rights by the decisions of a majority.    

The Libertarians are the second political group.  They are socially liberal, but economically they are conservative.  They are more likely to support gay and abortion rights, and the legalization of recreational drugs.  But economically, they are apt to recommend laissez-faire capitalism.  They want a small government with the fewest number of government regulations.  Libertarians may want the liberty to become millionaires and billionaires through the free market.  Libertarians, however, oppose crony capitalism, which occurs when there is a collusion of private companies that get subsidies and special benefits from the government.  Libertarians, like paleoconservatives, are against the interventionist foreign policy of the Neoconservatives.

Fundamentalist and evangelical Christians are two religious groups that are combined as one group here, referred to as the third group.  The fundamentalist churches interpret the Bible in the most literal way, even more so than the evangelical churches do.  But both have a pre-seventeenth century, or pre-Enlightenment Age, viewpoint of the Bible—believing in a fiery, eternal hell for the lost who refuse to take Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  They believe that abortion, in most cases, and homosexuality, are sinful practices.  Evolution is wrong, because it contradicts the first few chapters in the Book of Genesis.  Biblical professor and former United Methodist pastor Ernie Bringas, author of Jesusgate: A History of Concealment Unraveled provides an excellent survey of the latest biblical scholarship for laypeople from a liberal Christian worldview.  To hear a thought-provoking podcast interview of Ernie Bringas, click on this link: http://www.strategiesforliving.com/podcast.php?p=2206  

The problem that pastors often have, according to Ernie Bringas, is that if they tell their congregation everything they learned in seminary (that is, if it was a liberal seminary) about the latest scientific research on the Bible, many of the laypeople  would stop attending and go somewhere else for reassurance, if their entrenched beliefs were challenged.  Not wanting to be without a congregation or a livelihood, many pastors don’t tell the full truth that there is flimsy evidence for Jesus’ virgin birth, his literal resurrection, and the trinity.   For many people it is, or was, difficult to face the truth and give up certain childhood Christian beliefs.  But even after the initial shock and inner turmoil that results when Christians learn what scientific Bible scholars say about the Bible, self-identifying Christians can still grow spiritually.  And they can become better citizens with broader political views when they stop believing that their religion is the one and only way.    

Given the way most conservative Christians interpret the Bible, Israel plays an important role in the events leading up to the so-called Battle of Armageddon, the Rapture, and the Second Coming of Jesus.  For this reason, conservative Christians often reflexively support Zionism and military assistance to Israel. Conservative Christians are often Republicans who advocate a neoconservative foreign policy.  

The fourth group is the Tea Party movement, which is primarily concerned about deficit spending.  Every year that our government spends more money than it earns from tax revenues, it creates an annual deficit.  Since our government has borrowed and spent more money than it has earned year after year, it has caused our national debt to skyrocket out of control.   This is why Tea Partiers want to reduce government spending and taxes, even though many people might benefit if the government spent money to create jobs that are unavailable in the private sector.  Of course, the budget could be balanced every year, and the enormous national debt would not even exist, if the American government had not spent billions of dollars over the years on the military and on foolish (maybe “ insane” is a more accurate description), immoral, and very costly wars!  

According to www.WarResisters.org/pages/piechart.htm , 36% of the federal budget goes to the current military, and18% for past military spending, making a total of 54% of the federal budget spent on the military (and this does not include the $200 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan war spending).  Reducing military spending is not an option for many Tea Partiers since many of them believe that a very strong military should be a top priority.  Before he died, foreign policy expert Chalmers Johnson said that about 30 percent of military spending is secretive, unknown even to members of Congress.

Based on the history of our military and the covert operations of the CIA since the end of World War II, according to foreign policy expert William Blum, the American people would be appalled and ashamed (or at least they should be) if they learned the details about how our undercover CIA has bullied and intimidated democratically elected leaders of sovereign countries who have the audacity to believe they are free to do government differently than the way U.S. transnational corporations prefer.  As the saying goes, “Do as we say, or we will bring ‘democracy’ to your country.”  In the past, we believed we had to stop the sinister and exaggerated “international communist conspiracy.”  Now the new bogeyman is “the war on terrorism.”  And the real terrorists that actually exist have been fomented largely as the result of our government policies toward them. 

It can be argued that socialism or communism, since it first began in Russia in 1917, has never been allowed to rise or fall on its own merits because the U.S. government has had the power to undermine it in extremely unfair ways—using disinformation, sabotage, torture, assassination, election tampering, whatever it takes, whenever it, or a semblance of it, erupts in some remote corner of the world.  This is your taxes at work!  Now we know that it was not just the Russians who were getting a lot of propaganda during the Cold War.  We Americans were too, maybe even more.  Totalitarian socialism is not true socialism, which can only be implemented through a democratic process.   Perhaps the former Soviet Union, China, and North Vietnam would have become less totalitarian if they had not been so viciously attacked and undermined by the U.S. military and CIA.  

Another group, (the fifth group) consists of the New Age movement, to which this author has an affinity.  New Agers often talk about the importance of making a paradigm shift in consciousness.  That is, they believe we each can experience a higher state of consciousness called the Universal Mind, which makes the ordinary and usual state of mind seem less real, or even illusory in comparison.  Meditation helps one achieve a calm, objective, detached, and nonjudgmental awareness which enables a person to identify with this Universal Mind.  

Actually experiencing this Universal Oneness is like coming home to the true Self that had been there all along.  And we can return to that consciousness whenever we let go of our selfishness and prideful ego.  By always trying to get more or be more than everyone else, this ego creates duality, separateness, and suffering.  
This Universal Oneness is identical to the perennial philosophy of Aldous Huxley, the Atman and Brahman of the Hindus, the samadhi of yogis, the nirvana of Buddhists, and the inner Kingdom of God of Christian mystics.  These sublime states are purportedly supported by the findings of quantum physics and the growing scientific research on Near Death Experiences and parapsychology.

Moreover, in recent months there has been a resurgence of interest in psychedelic drugs such as peyote and ayahuasca, which can provide a foretaste of this Cosmic Consciousness.  Such drugs have been used as an effective treatment for alcoholism and physical drug addiction, and these plant-derived drugs often help people overcome the fear of dying.  But in order for these treatments to be successful, a proper mental set in a therapeutic setting is necessary.  Unfortunately, those conditions are difficult to meet in the United States, since the drugs and the treatments are illegal here.

Many advocates of the New Age movement are apolitical, and alas, without remorse.  Some refuse to learn about current events because they do not want to incorporate any “negativity” into their lives.  In the book Mindful Politics: A Buddhist Guide to Making the World a Better Place, edited by Melvin McLeod,  these words are found at the beginning of section one:

We are all equal, says the Dalai Lama (I learned recently that the Dalai Lama advocates a synthesis of Marxian economics and Buddhism), in seeking happiness and peace.  Yet as individuals and as nations, we value our own happiness over all others’.  This is called “ego” in Buddhism and it is the root of our suffering, both personal and collective.  He proposes a new approach to global politics based on taking responsibility for the happiness of all people.

In the Introduction of the book described above, Melvin McLeod said, “It’s not treaties that will really bring peace in the Middle East.  It’s not legislation that will really change the lives of those who live in poverty and misery.  It is only forgiveness, generosity, awareness, kindness, and selflessness that will really make a difference.”  A few pages back, in the Introduction on page 11, McLeod writes, “We have to recognize that we can’t really change the world.  We can’t really change who others are and what they think.  We can only work with our own heart and mind.  But the transformative power of that is extraordinary.”

If I were one of the writers in the above described book, I would put a much greater emphasis on the fact that we should still, nevertheless, keep working to create better governments, constitutions, laws, and treaties. Individuals need to be transformed inwardly to grow spiritually, and outer structures and institutions need to be radically changed as well.  The inner affects the outer, and the outer affects the inner.  Both are important.  Thus, if apolitical, New Age individuals stay calm, detached, objective, and centered in serenity, they should be able to cope with current events and engage in political thinking and activism more.   

     
The sixth group consists of the progressives and leftists of various Socialist, Communist, and Green Parties.  The author has a kinship with this group also.  Its concern for ecological sustainability, social justice, egalitarianism, and a non-interventionist foreign policy is urgently needed.  Probably most leftists do not practice meditation and prayer, nor believe in a higher Self and in reincarnation.  But as secular humanists, agnostics, and atheists–leftists can be just as moral and ethical as other groups that engage in various spiritual disciplines.      

 
With so much diversity and so many different worldviews within the United States, it is no wonder why the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex, or the wealthiest one percent, can easily manipulate and maintain control of the disparate masses.  Based on current trends, some would argue that the world is becoming a prison for the 99 percent.  They point to the passage of laws that increasingly restrict our free speech, and to the increase in surveillance and Homeland “Security.”  Meanwhile, third world nations are being plundered and exploited,   and corporate capitalism is destroying the planet’s environment. 

The seventh group is what I would call the scientific materialists or naturalists who believe there is nothing supernatural in the universe.  However, others would argue to the contrary that if one accepts the Big Bang cosmology, then whatever caused the big bang was a supernatural event. 

When some New Agers talk about the channeling of spirit guides or of alien abductions, conservative Christians argue that this is all satanic.  Conservative Christians do not believe that the so-called alien abductions are by beings from other planets.  Instead, they believe the beings are actually demonic spirits experienced in an extra-dimensional spiritual realm. 

Moreover, when individuals have an experience of unconditional love, joy, and rapture through the drug-induced, spirit of Ayahuasca, conservative Christians would again say this is all part of a satanic deception because Satan or Lucifer is a fallen angel who masquerades as an angel of light; he can create a convincing counterfeit of everything that is of God.  Watch this video by Taylor Marie by typing these words in the search window of youtube: “Ayahuasca: 1st Life-Changing Experience Explained,” or you can click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxdm4WBAgg4 .  

Reductive or scientific materialists, however, would say that both groups are deluded, even crazy—both the New Age pantheists or monists and the Christian theists.   The website www.rationalwiki.org  is an expression of the reductive materialist worldview.  Reductive or scientific materialists have differing political beliefs that span the political spectrum, from libertarians on the right to socialists on the left.  

Readers who want to understand how biblical literalists typically believe the End Times will unfold are encouraged to watch this video by typing these words in the search window at youtube: “Age of Deceit (Full) Fallen Angels and the New World Order” or you can click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjmFm8PIz8M .  According to the website www.FaceLikeTheSun.com , the film which was produced in 2011 has gotten over 3 million views.  This film by Gonzo Shimura attempts to tackle the topic of ancient alchemy and how its philosophical principles tie into current trends of science, technology, and future events described in the book of Revelation. 

The sequel to the first film can be found by typing these words in the search window at youtube: “Age of Deceit 2: Alchemy and the Rise of the Beast Image” or you can click on this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfRzUI8hkwo   This 180 minute film by Gonzo Shimura begins with a warning to modern Christians that they will be increasingly persecuted and marginalized by our society that is being increasingly influenced by the New Age movement in these Last Days.  Thus, Christians are increasingly considered as narrow-minded bigots who preach a doctrine of hate and intolerance for other religions.  Modern alchemists may attempt to achieve immortality through science and technology, but filmmaker Gonzo Shimura argues that the true hope for immortality can be found in Jesus Christ. 

Futurist developments involving genetics, robotics, information technology, and nanotechnology are also examined in the film.  Since large numbers of Christians would agree with this filmmaker’s eschatology, these beliefs should be investigated and understood. 

Toward the very end of the second film, Shimura shows portions of the youtube video made by Taylor Marie that is mentioned above called “Ayahuasca: 1st Life Changing Experience Explained.”  Here is the link again:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxdm4WBAgg4 .   I will transcribe some of Taylor Marie’s statements, and then afterwards I will provide Gonzo Shimura’s explanation of Taylor Marie’s hallucinogenic experience while in the Amazon forest.   Readers are encouraged to watch both video clips to get the unabridged versions. 

“I felt my body being taken over by the spirit of Ayahuasca.  It told me to stand up and walk outside…I felt a wave of love when I touched the tree.  It just washed over me and through me.  I started bawling my eyes out—it was so amazing and beautiful.  I felt love for the tree and the whole universe—love for everything, everyone, and myself too…I was taken over to this clearing in the yard and became amazed at the stars!  I stood there in awe.  I was slowly brought down to my knees: I wasn’t doing this.  This was my body being taken over!  I was brought down to my knees and my hands slowly came together like in a prayer position, and I started to pray.  I am not one to pray.  I have never prayed before. 

The fact that this was happening was very interesting.  And I was praying to the Universe, and I was thanking it, and I was thanking Mother Nature and thanking Ayahuasca.  I was just being grateful for everything.  And I started to cry at the beauty of everything!  It was one of the most amazing things of my life.  I would see random things like I saw a bunch of eyes—lots of eyes, blankets of eyes with my [own] eyes open and closed.  That whole experience, especially with the tree, connected me with nature and myself.  The whole thing changed my life.  I am so grateful that I went and did that.” 

Filmmaker Gonzo Shimura provides his interpretation of Taylor Marie’s ayahuasca experience in the Amazon forest: 

“Here are my thoughts on Taylor Marie’s experience.  The love she experienced is genuine love that emanates from God, and while this might startle some, let me explain what I think is going on:  Because Satan and his fallen ones do not have any truth in them, they must use truth as a means to deceive. 

Thus, it is my opinion that Taylor was first possessed and led by what she called the spirit of Ayahuasca to come to the tree and experience this connection and love that does truly reside in the fabric of creation.  But notice that through this experience, she was led to a position of prayer and [was] thanking the Universe!  Herein, lies the subtle deception: Instead of pointing to God, I believe Satan and his fallen ones used this experience as a means to divert the subject’s worship to anything other than to God—or to redefine God in a pantheistic or monistic sense. 

This does not mean that I condone the use of psychotropic and psychedelic drugs.  I do believe the use of them violates the boundaries which God has placed in this world and the next in order to protect us from this sort of deception.  Nevertheless, the use of these drugs is becoming more and more popular and accepted, not only in academia, but in our society as a whole. 

This plays into biblical prophecy as well: Revelation 18 describes the fall of Babylon in the End Times.  In verse 23 it states, “And all nations are deceived by your sorcery.”  The Greek word for sorcery is “pharmakeia.”  It is defined (in Strong’s [Concordance] 5331) as “magic, sorcery, enchantment.”  While we are reduced to shamans and chemicals to achieve these mind-altering experiences, such a thing will become the norm with brain interfacing blurring the lines between the physical world, virtual world, even the dream world, and the spiritual world. 

Looking at the process of rebuilding the modern-day Tower of Babel, it can be combined with the elements of controlled, mind-altering substances technologies that will merge with our brains.  It is my opinion that the stage is being set for the opening of the abyss.  The secrets of alchemy’s sacred promise mystery religions, the knowledge that began with fallen entities Thoth [one of the deities of the Egyptian pantheon, considered to be an Atlantean] and Semyaza [as described in the Book of Enoch] have been passed down through the hands of initiates of Freemasonry, Kabala, Rosicrucian, and a slew of other secret orders. 

It has come to manifest in the last century with the advent of technology and science, progressing man’s ability to harness the power of nature and reality, whether through the brink of human destruction via nuclear weapons or at the precipice of controlled evolution such as genuine artificial intelligence.  The fallen ones will return and present themselves as the saviors of mankind and give humanity the philosopher’s stone, the elixir of life.  And those who choose to accept this ancient discovery will fall for the greatest cosmic ruse of the universe, [and become] forever enslaved in the clutches of the enemy who wants nothing more but to destroy mankind.”    [End of abridged transcription of Gonzo Shimura’s interpretation of Taylor Marie’s ayahuasca experience]

Here is how I respond to biblical literalists:  Would a loving God torment people eternally in hell for the sins of 80 years?  And if such a personal God is all loving, all powerful, and all-knowing—why does He hide himself from the world? Whether reincarnation is true or not, it certainly seems more humanitarian.  Others have asked these same questions and many more.  Moreover, as mentioned earlier, based on modern scientific research, as shared in Ernie Bringas’ book and podcasts, many liberal Christian Bible scholars doubt Jesus’ virgin birth, his literal resurrection, and the trinity.  

To get permission to transcribe part of the film, I sent this article to filmmaker Gonzo Shimura in an email.   He wrote back and provided elaborate explanations as to why he disagreed with my above response to Christianity.  He also recommended other documentaries.  But he did say “your write up [transcription] was very well written, and I hope you get some thought-provoking responses from them.” 

Creating Unity With So Much Diversity

So, it is obvious that there are major differences, even irreconcilable differences, between the three worldviews of the biblical literalist, the New Ager, and the reductive scientific materialist–which is still the dominant view taught in public schools and universities.   Both Christians and New Agers have argued that their religious teachings should be included in public school curricula.  They pay taxes to help finance the public schools, but their views are not allowed to be heard. 

Ideally, students should learn about all the different religions and political parties after meeting devoted followers of the different religions and political parties and reading their primary source literature and not someone’s interpretation of it.  Then the students can judge for themselves without being influenced by their textbook’s and teacher’s particular biases. 

To avoid altogether the subject of religion and various controversial issues in public schools is to the detriment of students.  Furthermore, we should not neutralize textbooks to ignore counterculture criticisms of the business model, materialistic consumerism, government policies, and mainstream culture.   Teachers should not be expected to be extensions of the government.  When they don’t have the freedom to honestly share their passionate convictions, it prevents students from thinking deeply about the most important issues of life. 

If the residents who live within the boundary of every public elementary, middle, and high school were allowed to decide by majority rule what school philosophy and curriculum to implement, an interesting diversity would result.  Most likely, parents and other adults in a school district would use the Internet to learn about various school philosophies and curricula. 

Neighborhood control of neighborhood public schools would not solve all of the   problems mentioned above, and it would also create some new problems.  But it should eliminate some of stale effects of living in a massive, stereotypical monoculture.  It just might restore a new sense of civics and citizenship as local residents are given more challenging tasks than watching TV and shopping. 

The former hierarchical structure could be provided to the school districts that just can’t concur on anything.  But toward the end of the school year, residents could vote on any working group’s proposed independent school model that, if approved, could be implemented at the start of the next school year. 

The school board of an independent school would likely hire teachers who live in the school district to create a more close-knit community.  The school building could be the hub of the neighborhood, used by all residents for many different purposes every day and night of the week. Each school community could even have its own closed-circuit TV channel available to all the residents to broadcast resident-produced, neighborhood news and educational programming 24 hours a day. 

What else is needed?  Empowering the 7 largest national political parties in a unicameral national legislature, using a system of proportional representation, while taking all money out of politics, as discussed in the author’s proposed Third Constitution–would help promote social justice within society.  

  
Average Americans must realize the importance of democratic decision making or democracy, especially consensus and participatory democracy in small groups and in local communities.  Moreover, somewhere–if not at home, then at school—everyone should learn conflict resolution skills.  Our government must become a democracy and a republic, that is, a democratic republic.  It must be a democracy that provides guaranteed human rights that the so-called “mob” cannot deprive individuals of, and it must be a republic in which our leaders, who represent larger groups of people, will actually represent all the people, and not just the wealthiest.  

The American people must realize that there are “blowback” repercussions if their government dominates and bullies the world and exploits the labor and resources of other countries for the benefit of its transnational corporations.  If by using a black budget, the CIA is sabotaging democratically elected governments of developing countries that refuse to be client states of the United States, we the citizens, who allow our government to do this, may be the ones who reap the consequences.  Would we want a foreign government to have large military bases on our land?  Of course not!  So why do we think the people of other nations welcome our bases on theirs?  Not only individuals but nations should remember the Golden Rule.  

 
Moreover, Americans must strive to achieve gender equality and develop toleration and respect for alternative sexual preferences.  To reduce the forces of domination and hierarchy, our institutions and organizations can be built from the bottom-up, not the top-down, whenever possible. 

What is the one branch of government that is most responsible for our plight, but potentially is the most powerful branch of government that can actually rectify most of our social and economic problems?  It is the national legislative branch or the U.S. Congress.  Currently only about ten percent of Americans approve of Congress, which is quite pathetic. 

We have to take responsibility for allowing the wealthiest one percent to control us.  We need to recognize that although the members of Congress enjoy the pay, prestige, and perks of the job, they need financial contributions in order to get reelected. The one percent is able to donate the most money, which they do as long as members of Congress do their bidding, which they do.  So the American people must realize the importance of taking all money out of politics, so that Congress can fulfill its rightful role of meeting the needs of the many groups in our society.  In short, the best political remedy for our local communities, our nation, and the world is to demand that the U.S. Congress does all the necessary things to maximize democracy and promote world peace.

It has been said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.  Well, that journey need not seem impossible.  Consider that, for the first time, the American people recently expressed in the polls that they don’t believe the current lies and disinformation about why the U.S. should bomb Syria. 

As more and more Americans wake up and stop relying on the mainstream media in the formation of their opinions, there is greater opportunity to reach the masses, especially the millions of Americans who don’t have jobs, or who work at jobs that don’t pay living wages.  The working class of America can be educated and energized to demand that their members of Congress make these radical changes, or be voted out of office.
The U.S. Congress, with its extremely low approval rating, does not have to be permanently despised.  Instead, an educated and empowered citizenry can help it become the ideal of the world.  The Occupy Wall Street movement failed, at least in part, because it could not agree on specific demands to make of Congress.  We have to be united in our common dreams and short term objectives.  

As the gap between the rich and poor widens exponentially within a country and between countries, this causes national and world social problems to increase more than anything else.  This is why, in the author’s opinion, it is extremely important to reduce the economic gap even more than what current socialists and communists might advocate.  But the democratic voice of the people, after the 7 largest national political parties are empowered through proportional representation, may not be willing to reduce the gap to this extent.

We can create a classless society in which citizens enjoy academic study, philosophical thinking, meditation, and voluntary simplicity over conspicuous consumption and mindless TV watching.  The new society could be characterized by local, organic and composted, food production in front yards and backyards–local self-determination, undergirded by a modern type of tribalism.  But the democratic voice of the people may choose a more regulated type of capitalism with a greater focus on individualism—even after the empowerment of the seven largest national political parties.   

Advocating neighborhood control of neighborhood schools, to the extent the author has advocated it, is unprecedented.  No other educational philosopher has ever recommended it.  Even the first public schools had elements of top-down control.  But just because it has never been tried does not mean it can never work. We need the courage and flexibility to try new things, and also the humility to admit it when we are wrong.  

With so much diversity, can there be unity and peace in the world?  There can be unity and peace, and even happiness in the world, in spite of all the diversity.  But, to achieve it—we each must find a way–through meditation, prayer, daily attitude, selfless service, or a combination of these things–to be joyful and also loving and kind in our interpersonal relationships.

But more than this is required:  As responsible citizens, we must consider it our civic duty to maximize democracy within our society and do the things that promote world peace and ecological wisdom.  It is better to think of what is best for the world and the planet than only what is best for one’s self and country.  Democracy, of course, can only work if the citizens are well educated.

In the second and third essays of this series, the author picks 7 well known political parties to explain how proportional representation works.  Though the author’s liberal political bias can be easily discerned in these essays, it is hard to say how the national political gestalt would be expressed if the 7 largest national political parties had the same public exposure and finances as the current Republicans and Democrats.  

At different times in my life, I have identified with the Christian fundamentalists and liberal Christians, especially those that support Liberation Theology.  Cutting edge, New Age books–such as One Mind: How Our Individual Mind is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters by Larry Dossey, M.D.–are also very interesting to me.  And, of course, having some of the skepticism provided by left-brained, linear, rational, and scientific materialists can also be healthy. 

In my search for truth, I have also identified with the Libertarian and Constitution Parties and various Socialist, Green, Communist, and Anarchists political positions.  In my 43 years of voting, sometimes I did not even vote, but I have voted Republican and Democratic—a few times each.  Perhaps it is because I have been sympathetic, at one time or another, to so many different viewpoints, that I advocate a live-and-let-live philosophy that would create decentralized public schools and tribal neighborhood school districts.   

A democratic world government that divides the world map into 500 rectangles, or 500 legislative districts of equal population is also recommended.  But since it would be built from the bottom-up through a democratic process, such a government could be dismantled just as easily as it could be assembled, according to the democratic will of planetary citizens.  This democratic world government would be nothing like the fancied or imminent New World Order that every citizen should fear and resist—if ever the wealthiest one percent should attempt to decimate millions of people and create a two-tiered system with a few elitists   having dictatorial control over the required number of serfs they need.  

We should not just vaguely pray and long for world peace.  We should work and strive for it with a specific vision and plan of action for achieving it.  As mentioned at the beginning, if most people believe that the ideas and values shared in this essay are utopian and far-fetched, then they will be.  But, on the other hand, if an ever-increasing number of people accept, share, and promote these ideas or similar ones—the vision will eventually become a reality. 

The highest form of individual achievement is that which promotes the common good.  Regarding the perennial questions of life, I haven’t met anyone who has absolute certainty and proof about such matters, but it is noble to keep seeking better answers to the important questions.  The perennial questions are part of the mystery of life.   

       
Roger Copple is 64 years old. He retired 4 years ago in 2010 from teaching general elementary, mostly 3rd grade, and middle and high school special education in Indianapolis.  He now lives in Bradenton, Florida.  Right after waking up, Roger walks outside for almost 40 minutes every morning.  He is a voracious reader of website articles and books.  Sometimes he plays chess and tennis.  He also does insight meditation for a few minutes a day.  Roger grew up in a United Pentecostal Church family and remembers going to church 4 times a week.  His parents have always voted Republican.   Roger can be emailed: [email protected]   His website: www.NowSaveTheWorld.com