

CND Badge, 1960s

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CND Badge, 1960s by dannybirchall

The insanity of U.S. foreign policy, the emergence of the Surveillance-Police State, and the destruction of the planet by corporate capitalism necessitate a return of the anti-nuclear, anti-war, nonviolent Peace Movement.

We may laugh at religious fanatics who hold signs that say, "The End is Near!" But, right now, it's clear that we are in fact experiencing an end to democracy (in whatever limited degree we had it), privacy, and ecological sustainability. International bankers and transnational corporate executives--the military-industrial-security-financial complex-- continue to "hijack" the U.S. government as it seeks to gain control of every country, creating a sinister New World Order. Now, I am not one of those people who believe in an organized conspiracy going back 300 years, but I do believe a lot of the wealthy elitists have similar interests that don't bode well for the rest of us, the 99%.

Actually, there does need to be a New World Order, but it has to be built from the bottom-up, with an emphasis on personal freedom (such as marijuana/hemp legalization and the freedom to visit Cuba), democracy, ecological wisdom, radical egalitarianism, social justice, and nonviolence.

Dividing the world map into 500 legislative rectangles of equal population, while taking all money out of politics, would be one way to create a democratic world government. The World Legislative Council could then make executive and judicial branch appointments.

Expecting real change to come through better Democrats and Republicans leads mostly to great disappointment. The two-party system is corrupt, and third parties under the current system will never get an equal voice.

Writing to members of Congress, writing articles, and signing petitions to get new federal amendments passed--such as striking down the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling of 2010, which now increases the corporate influence of politics--can take decades to produce the needed change. And, even if those efforts are successful, many other major changes will be needed to further expand democracy and promote peace. The millions of Egyptians who have recently massed together in one place in unity have much to teach us.

The problem with the Occupy Movement was that the demonstrators could not agree on a list of specific demands, equally supported by other peace movements around the world. Here is a proposed list of ten demands that can create the change needed to save the planet before it is too late:

1. Dismantle all nuclear weapons and nuclear energy power plants the world over as soon as possible.

2. The U.S. government must bring home all its troops and close down its 700-1000 military bases around the world. Even with such a drawdown, it would retain more than enough capacity to defend its own borders. The money previously spent on the military would be used instead to create jobs and rebuild the nation's infrastructure: "[A]nd they shall turn their swords into ploughshares." (Isaiah 2:4).

3. Single-Payer Health Insurance will be instituted, with the federal government as the single payer.

4. The influence of money will be taken out of politics.

5. The U.S. House of Representatives will be elected through a system of Proportional Representation, and the U.S. Senate will be abolished. The seven largest national political parties will be empowered.

6. The Electoral College System for electing a president will be abolished. A president must win by a majority of individual votes (not just a plurality of votes), using the method of Instant Runoff Voting.

7. Congress, not the president, will select Supreme Court judges, who will serve for nine-year terms.

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