Is the USA really by the people and for the people?

Question

When our country was founded, it was done so on the principal that we are "By the people and for the people." However, I don't think that our government is anywhere near for and by the people. IMO there is a group of politically elite people who are in control, and we as citizens have much less influence than they would like us to believe. I would like to know what other people think about that, and also, what needs to be done in order to get the American people more directly involved and in control?

Answer 1

Not really. It's becoming a plutocracy dominated by the transcontitental super-elite.

Why do you think we are still in Iraq and the border is still very unstable? Despite the fact overwhelmingly Americans have stated we're tired of policing the world and we want our borders secure?

Our elected officials are supposed to represent us. They aren't though. It makes you wonder what they're doing up there.

Also google NAFTA. It might make your stomach hurt just to see what they're trying to slip under the rug.

Answer 2

It is the best way.  Our direct control is in voting.  Unfortunately people are stupid.

Answer 3

When the country was founded we had the Articles of Confederation as the charter of government. No mention of that phrase there. Then we adopted our current Constitution. No mention of that phrase there either. And the phrase you cited is only part of the following phrase from an address that Abraham Lincoln gave at the dedication of a cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 87 years after our country was founded:

"That GOVERNMENT of the people, by the people and for the people should not perish from the earth".

I think we have a dreadful record as a people of not knowing the foggiest thing about the founding of this country. Less than half of eligible voters are not even registered to vote. Less than one in five adults has ever read the Constitution. Most adults can't name the Member of Congress for their district.  So, if this has brought about some evil instead of the government spoken about by Abraham Lincoln, then we have fulfilled the definition laid down by Edmund Burke:

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". Sorry, But, we've become the champs at that!

Answer 4

The electoral college is proof enough that even the founding fathers did not trust the general population to truly elect their leaders.

Answer 5

This is a good question and something that many

Americans are waking up to.  People haven't been happy with the government, as we know it, for a long time. It's designed to help the rich get richer while they are pretending to help the poor.  One candidate that is running on the Republican ticket is a billionaire.  How can he know anything about the suffering of the poor and disenfranchised? A popular candidate can win the popular vote (ex. John Kerry) but lose the election on the electorial vote.  Electorial vote is so many votes per state.  Whichever way the states as a whole go I guess.  Red or Blue.  This seems like an easily rigged practice.  Perhaps the states can dig up the extra votes to get their man elected.  Our government insists on open and fair elections in other countries but I'm not sure the word "Fair" is one I would associate with ours. You are right though in regard to the constitution. That government should be by the people, and for the people.  All the people!

Answer 6

Yes it is.  You have the power to vote.

Answer 7

one way to get the country more in control is not to allow immigrants to use up all of the resources.

Answer 8

Its for the .001% of elite billionares, made by the people.  You are not really a citizen unless you have 50 million in the bank.

Answer 9

If you feel that you don't like what is going on then why not get involved?  There are several things you can do.

Answer 10

Not directly. If we were a direct democracy then everyone would vote on EVERY policy issue. Not only is it impractical from a logistical standpoint, it's also impractical to expect every citizen to be informed on every subject.

That's why the founding fathers chose to use elected officials to do the majority of the work for us. Some say it's because they were afraid of the mob rule mentality, but it's really because they understood the impracticalities involved in direct democracy.

It is a voter's responsibility to vote for someone that most closely matches their own values -- when that happens then it's the closest we can get to "by the people for the people."

Answer 11

We the people are the ones who put these people into office.  Except for the judicial branch - we have the power to elect these officials, but too many americans are apathetic and unorganized to vote for the right people and to get rid of the political elite.

Answer 12

I do not think the USA or any other country for that mater is controlled through its people, it is controlled by the government the people have voted for, the government in return trys to keep its people happy as the country can make more money, and if they have kept the people happy enough by the end of the 2 or 4 years etc.... depending on where you are, then they might be able to keep there position.

From what I have observed to get a country to act is to put it under high pressure form the media, the best way to do that is to riot (peacefully) with alot of anger (NOT PHYSICALLY) that will draw the medias attention and put the USA under high pressure

Answer 13

Okay...you just figured this out?  Don't forget to include the elite in the media who are determined not to let We the People know that we do actually have more influence than you realize.

The problem is that this requires the voters to get beyond the "two-party, front-runner, horse-race" mentality that the media and the two major parties bombards us with.

Answer 14

Less for the people is the tendency.  The power is in the hands of the politicians and the owners of the money.  The American Dream of the thirties is long gone.  This can be reverted if the people forget the political parties and vote for the best candidates.

Answer 15

yes

Answer 16

I understand exactly what you are saying, that does seem to be the case more often than not.  If you don't have the contacts, money or name, it makes little to no differance.  Thankfully though my step-dad did teach me about making legit petitions, and writting the local congressman.  It may take time, and it dosen't always work, but sometimes it does, and I have stopped and enabled a few things to happen in my life because of what I learned from him.

That's the thing though.  We have got to be more involved other than just by voting.  You sometimes have to really get out there and make it a point to be heard.  This is really hard for me, because I am so shy, but a year of drama class at least enabled me to learn how to keep my voice.  I have helped parents get child support, I have helped prevent a probation checkpoint for s*x offenders being built in my old neighborhood which was full of kids.  We have to learn how to be involved point blank, and it is something we can do freely because we are american and this is America.  Sometimes the senators, congressmen, or governor dosen't know exactly what's going on because no one speaks up from the other side of the fence.  That's what we have to learn how to do, speak up in such a way that we can be heard without violence.

Answer 17

it never really has been by the people or for the people , the only votes that we as individuals do that count is in our local elections, mayor, school board etc. the electoral college is really how the president is elected. a presidential candidate can have the majority off individual votes, and still lose because he doesn't have the majority of the electoral college's vote. as far as getting the American people more in control, what are we going to do , do you know of anyone who has a better idea, even if you did how do you go about getting the majority of the people to change and back the change, somewhere down the line it's going to change whether we like it or not. because the worlds circumstances are going to change. after all every one of the previous governments on this earth has fallen its only a matter of time for this one.

Answer 18

Everything is about money....and how to make as much as possible.....the people and individual rights....not important

nothing should be-able to stop corps...ceo's...politicians from making money they are obliged to return to their investors....lying...stealing...cheating doesn't matter unless you get caught.....of course with a lot of money you can get a good lawyer to get you off..

As an individual...you aren't part of the equation....only a contributor (consumer...that's your only value)

how do we stop this......take away what they all need....money

collapse the system....stop funding their greed....refuse to believe their lies (propaganda)....stop living a life beyond our means with money we borrowed.....get ah-old of our own greed and belief we deserve so much...start living with our brains....and balance with our environment (stop the belief that overpopulation is OK, god gave us the planet to exploit, use. destroy, for our short term gains)...add some commo0n sense to the equation.....basically ....grow up as a species

Answer 19

Not anymore.  Clever politicians and advisors have made any attempt for citizens to influence policy or politics, a "security issue" for the safety of the President or members of Congress.  Like that war protestor who's son died in Iraq.  Her right to freedom of speech was stomped on by Bush, like she was ome kind of communist.....Too many people, make it pretty hard.  I think it's become just an ideal.

Answer 20

We the people want a fence built between us and Mexico.  See it being built?  Need anymore examples?