Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Archaic Athens and Modern America Politics
Most of my readers have probably never heard of a man by the name of 'Solon'. Solon was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and Lyric poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in archaic Athens. During Solon's time, many Greek city-states had seen the emergence of tyrants, opportunistic noblemen who had grabbed power on behalf of sectional (read as corporate) interests.
In Solon's day, those of noble birth or wealth controlled all things governmental, including the assembly or congress as we would know it. It was this control which allowed them to pass laws and pretty much keep the poor under foot. It also meant that these Archons, what we would know as a 'President', and Ekklesia know to us as 'Congressmen' could not be called to account for perfidy against the poor and the country unless the congress favoured prosecution.
Because of this situation the great city-state of Athen was thrown into much turmoil. Solon, because of his great wisdom was chosen by all the people to govern all of Athens with near limitless power. It was the hope of the people that he would benefit their group, poor or rich, so they all voted him in.
Its common historical knowledge that his changes to how Athens was governed lead directly to the first democratic state. He made it so that common people, and not just the rich or aristocratic could have a voice in their governance.
Hmm. Sounds hauntingly familiar does it not? Oh yes, it reminds me of the last 3 presidents starting with Clinton. Well it actually starts further back in the U.S. timeline but these three are current and their actions as tyrants more pronounced than their predecessors. Americans are great at many things, however, they fall flat when it comes to learning from history.
We have allowed our own government to move in this direction. Be not fooled by the fact that you get to vote for them. Voter fraud (paperless balloting), slanted media coverage (look how Big News treated Ron Paul), and corporate sponsorship (does anyone really believe that the 780 Million raised by Obama came only from small donations?) all conspire to rob us of a legitimate vote. There is plenty of proof on the internet concerning the presidencies of Clinton and Bush and the treasonous actions both of these men fausted upon the citizenry of America. When we wonder what kind of leader Obama will be, we have only to look at his congressional voting record and his wife's use of his polical position to further her personal goals (I really do wonder what qualified her for appointment to the board's of directors at large corporate businesses and organisations in Chicago).
I find it interesting also that in order to placate the poor and huddled masses, they throw welfare at them which seems to be enough to stop the overthrow of their quite profitable legislative enterprise. Do you see Obama calling any of these poor to his cabinet? How about a poor Supreme Court Justice (hehe, i crack myself up sometimes, a poor lawyer) appointment should the need arise? You get my point. It looks like 4 more years of status quo for the poor and downtrodden.
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking that created them. Its obvious that Obama has been thoroughly indoctrinated into the U.S. congressional enterprise and good 'ole boy's club just from his Senate voting record... I can only hope his thinking changed out on the campaign trail.
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