USA Existential Crises: New Prince Class, National Security

Barry, My Liege:

You have both the privilege and the curse of being President when the country faces at least two existential crises, each of which is equal to the crisis Lincoln faced when the South seceded and we entered the Civil War.

These crises are existential in that each questions our 'existence in an unfathomable universe [where] the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for his acts of free will [is] without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad.' [Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1984]

The first existential crisis is the creation of a New Prince Class of super rich Princes and the simultaneous destruction of the Middle Class.

The second existential crisis is the enlargement of the National Security establishment and the consequent abrogation of the Constitution.

The New Prince Class creates an existential crisis for two reasons.

First, the economic interests of this Class dictate that its retainers work to remove any governmental impediments to further increasing its wealth and influence. As it grows in wealth so does the New Prince Class grow in influence over the legislative and regulatory processes. At this writing, the only check on its power may lie in the election of a majority of legislators in State and national government who are dedicated to reducing its influence.

Such an event happened only once before in our history - during the 1930's and the Great Depression. Prior to that event and its horrible social effects, Americans of all backgrounds cooperated in creating the common good of the country. Sometimes that cooperation was forced, but it was real nevertheless.

The crisis of this time is that the New Prince Class has no perceived interest in cooperating for the good of the country.

Second, it is an existential crisis for the United States inasmuch as our prosperity and greatness as a nation has always lay with a prosperous middle class. The New Prince Class is rising at a time the Middle Class is sinking. An argument can be made that the New Prince Class actively supports the destruction of the Middle Class, but that is for another place and time.

The National Security establishment, NSA, CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, Justice Department, etc., etc., creates an existential crisis by actively abrogating several key provisions of the Constitution.

In its zeal to defend our country from the real and perceived threats of suicide bombers and mass attacks similar to 9.11, this establishment routinely subverts key Constitutional protections against arbitrary power.

This space has iterated those actions previously in this post : Thursday, January 19, 2012, titled 'US Constitution Dead'.

Barry, My Liege, I believe it is correct to say that the Constitution is the single thing that has created the United States as a unique place in the world. It gives us the ability to restrain arbitrary power and the ability to check the excesses of a moneyed Class.

When the Constitution is destroyed - whether by those seeking to protect it or by others - the country is in crisis.

Of course it is a difficult task to balance the Constitutional protections of citizens against an arbitrary government with the duty to protect the country from attacks. It appears that the scales are out of balance and tipping toward a repressive establishment at this writing.

We support all the actions you take to solve these crises, My Liege, and we pray you success.

Your faithful servant,