Can We Keep It?

By Hank Silverberg

As Benjamin Franklin left the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1789 where our early leaders had just spent months putting together the U.S. Constitution, he was asked by an observer what kind of government our nation would have.  His response: “It’s a Republic, if we can keep it!”

A government of the people with free elections for its leaders, was a new concept  in the 18^th Century. It was an experiment with many unknowns and many flaws, some of which we have yet to fix. 

 We are celebrating America’s 243^rd birthday this week at a time when  the United States faces its greatest political division since 1860.

That was clear during last week’s crowded Democratic debate that included a great deal of diversity in candidates, if not in ideas. The 20 people on the stage over two nights, for the most part, did not differ much on ideology. But it was clear they are far apart from the people now running, and perhaps ruining our country. They are the same people the Democratic nominee will face in next year’s Presidential election. We are at a crossroads, like in 1860, where ideology may get in the way of compromise, and prevent the Republic from fixing its remaining flaws.  

No one is forming a rebel army, dressing in gray and getting ready to attack a U.S. military installation, though as we saw in Charlottesville two years ago, there are some people who still want to.

Here are some of the things we are divided on this July 4^th week that need repair:

The Preamble to  the Constitution says the government should “…establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity… "

For many Americans, including I would suggest most of those on the debate stage last week, that means a criminal justice system that does NOT discriminate against people based on race, gender or sexual orientation, or one that DOES NOT lock children in cages without due process of law.

Promoting the general welfare includes regulating a health care system that helps keep people well. Though we can debate whether that system is run by the government or by regulated private industry, or a combination of both, there should be no debate that the government has a role in protecting the health of the nation’s population. The idea expressed by some that it’s not a government responsibility is simply wrong.

Promoting the general welfare also means a tax structure that does not favor a person who is rich over one who is poor. In this our leaders have failed miserably. Ninety-nine percent of us know that. (Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren can stop YELLING about it. We live it.)   

I am not a constitutional scholar. But like many Americans, I am concerned that our basic human rights, to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” outlined in the Declaration of Independence, are being eroded.

You don’t think so?

A decision by the U.S Supreme Court this past week may highlight that.

The Court, which often takes the easy way out and avoids the constitutional issue in favor of a narrow ruling, has done it again. They decided this past week in a 5-4 vote, that “one man, one vote" should be decided in the back rooms of one-sided state legislatures. There, the party in power gerrymanders congressional and legislative districts to favor their own party’s re-election. That makes it harder for individual voters to impact policy change and preys on our racial and ethnic divisions.  (Which party is favored in which state is irrelevant to the argument against gerrymandering.) https://www.scotusblog.com/

So, happy birthday, America! Here’s to another 243 years, at least. It’s still a republic for now, but it’s still unclear if we can keep it.

News Notes:

Twitter Diplomacy: It wasn’t exactly Nixon to China.

After meeting with Chinese leader Xi and his old Russian buddy Vladimir Putin at the G-20 summit in Asia,  President Trump took a side trip to make some questionable history. He took 22 steps into the Hermit Kingdom where he shook hands with his new buddy—the brutal dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un. Trump is the first American President ever to step into that country.  It apparently happened because of this tweet, with little notice to his staff or the State Department.   

_________________________________________________________________________________

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

After some very important meetings, including my meeting with President Xi of China, I will be leaving Japan for South Korea (with President Moon). While there, if Chairman Kim of North Korea sees this, I would meet him at the Border/DMZ just to shake his hand and say Hello(?)!

6:51 PM · Jun 28, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

______________________________________________________

Apparently, Un did see the Tweet and was there to meet Mr Trump. After the handshake they moved to “The Peace House" nearby in the DMZ and talked for about an hour. They apparently decided to have more talks about curtailing North Korea’s efforts to build nuclear weapons.  Talking is good. As long as two foes are talking, they are not shooting. But somehow the whole thing seemed very amateurish, with no set agenda, no real plan, and no preparation. Trump gave Un a big propaganda victory and got nothing for it, except a promise for more talks. North Korea is still moving along on  it's plans to become a nuclear power. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-in-south-korea-trump-visits-dmz-today-2019-06-30/

 The DMZ is a stark, fenced-in place between North and South Korea that’s existed since a ceasefire in the Korean war in 1953. It is surrounded by guards, tanks and artillery on both sides. Before going there, Mr Trump praised it.  He called it “a real border” and compared it to the wall he wants on our southern border.     

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-29/trump-calls-korean-dmz-a-real-border-compared-with-his-wall

This is North Korea he was speaking about, currently the most brutal authoritarian place on the planet. 

     And then there's this: As new White House Communications Director Stephanie Grisham followed  Mr Trump into “The Peace House,” she got shoved and roughed up by North Korean guards because she tried to take the White House Press pool inside with them. There’s nothing diplomatic about that. Ironically, Grisham herself already has a reputation of being rough with reporters. She once kicked reporters out of the Arizona House floor because she didn’t like what they had written in the newspaper. Maybe now, after her experience in the DMZ, she’ll re-think that kind of action. 

   

America’s Pastime in London:

There was some good news this week. Major League Baseball was played in London. The Red Sox and that team from the Bronx (I never use the “Y” word) met at a nicely converted soccer stadium for a two-game series. The 180 thousand people who attended the two games got to see spectacular hitting and terrible pitching and two victories for NY. (Darn!). It was nice to see one of the U.S.A’s best ambassador on display. But there's an irony here, too. A number of the players on both teams actually come from somewhere other than the U.S.A. 

               (Your comments and suggestions are welcome)

(Copies of my new novel can be purchased on Amazon.com, BN.com or by emailing me at hanksilverberg@gmail.com to get instructions on how to get a reduced price signed copy). 

(Hint on Plot: An embattled President uses a war against Iran during his run for re-election.)