Conceptually, America is 50 Switzerlands or should be, based upon the thinking exemplified in the Founding documents and the other rich historical documentation left to us by the Founders. That conception may be difficult to comprehend when viewed through the lens of our current reality. Today’s reality does not resemble a real democracy, no matter how you slice it.
Let me offer three perspectives that will put some flesh on those bones for your consideration.
Switzerland Is The Only True Democracy In The World
In my opinion, Switzerland is the only sovereign nation in the world that is a direct democracy. Switzerland comprises 26 cantons (or provinces) that “…decide on policy initiatives without legislative representatives as proxies ….” Those 26 cantons are actively engaged in the governance of their country. This governance appears to work reasonably well in this country of 8.5 million citizens. To paraphrase E.F. Schumacher’s book title, “Small Is (Really) Beautiful,” especially in the case of Switzerland.
The 13 Original States
America became somewhat united with the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union drafted in November 1777 and ratified in February 1781; the Articles became effective in March 1781. They were superseded by the U.S. Constitution in March 1789.
From the beginning, the 13 original states were often contentious, even within the major groupings of states, such as the New England states or the Mid-Atlantic states. They did not trust one another, and they trusted the idea of a centralized government with executive and tax powers even less. And now, we have 50 states that are all unique, with different priorities. So, one size does not fit all, regardless of the perspective or context.
Democracy Is A Concept Vastly Misunderstood In America
As I have written in an earlier post, America has never been a democracy and is not one today. It is not even a representative democracy, given that the representatives in the Legislative Branch (the Senate and the House) do not represent the will, thinking, or the collective mindset of We the People. The agenda and actions of most representatives (senators and representatives) do not align well, if at all, with the priorities of the American people, and for the most part, never have.
Most Americans confuse the idea of democracy with being able to vote in various elections every two or four years. We practice true democracy only when we vote on an initiative or a referendum, or we attempt to recall an elected official. Such events are rare when compared to the number of issues on which the Senate and the House of Representatives legislate, on our behalf.
One Final Thought
In my opinion, America has become too large and too complex to govern as a democracy: direct, indirect, or representative. So, perhaps, it is time to bring back the concept of several confederations. That idea has my vote.
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Cordially,
Andrew J. Guinosso