You can see where we are in re-creating government for the 21st century by looking back 100 years.
When the American author Winston Churchill wrote A Far Country in 1914, many of the big changes of that decade had yet to be formulated into law - - the income tax and women's right to vote probably the two biggest not yet done.
And yet Churchill points to the future, to the struggle, to the possibility that government can be returned to the people. He writes:
"During the earliest years of the new century the political atmosphere had changed, the public had shown a tendency to grow restless...." And then he notes the perspective of the rich "....and everybody knows how important it is for financial operations, for prosperity, that the people should mind their own business."
"The forces of 'privilege and corruption' were not much alarmed....and the public as yet hadn't shown much interest in the struggle being waged in its behalf."
And yet, with change so hard and so slow, Churchill points to the future, points to hope, noting about the man defending the people:
"He has queer notions about a new kind of democracy which he says is coming."
Indeed that new kind of democracy did come, in just a few short years. It can be our future for government in the 21st century as well.
Ferns on the river bank in the national forest.
Thanks Bill. I'm enjoying this series of posts.
Posted by: Terry Newman | August 14, 2014 at 02:58 PM