Ending Federal Gridlock and Restoring Constitutional Progressive Governance

Payne Edwards

A long essay that offers hope for restoring American governance and breaking out of today's partisan political paralysis.

America’s system of governance has not changed much since the early 1900 Progressive Era. This essay describes why the system has reached the point that American governance is incapable of meeting the needs of the people and has put the country on a path to financial crisis. It presents a package of reforms, including amendments to the Constitution and changes to state governments that will force political leadership to deal effectively with today's challenges, that will compel leaders to balance Americans' personal freedom with the power of government, that will empower leaders to advance society and support communities without simply redistributing wealth, and that will provide fiscal discipline. It envisions a system of governance that serves the people, not one that rewards corporations and special interests or concentrates power in an administrative state. Refreshingly devoid of partisan accusations, and reflecting a viewpoint that most Americans truly want what is best for the country, the essay provides an insightful perspective for understanding why, today, “Washington is broken,” and goes far beyond the annoying and frustrating right-left finger-pointing, rationalizing and proselytizing.

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constitutional, gridlock, progressive

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Payne Edwards wrote 456 days ago

John,
Ooops. My prior comment is confusing. The book, that will be published, is titled "Gridlock.... Why We're In It and How To Get Out." I thought this was the title that I'd uploaded to Authonomy. But, clearly, I uploaded the original title to Authonomy.
Payne

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Payne Edwards wrote 456 days ago

John,
Thanks very much for taking the time to read and for your comments. I can see why some, including yourself, apply the libertarian label, since the main argument is that the only way out of gridlock in the federal government is to restrain the powers of the federal government. But I (tried to, anyway) make the argument that rejuvenated state governments would not only continue many programs and policies that today come from the federal government, but would be able to do them in a more responsive, flexible and tailored way to better serve state and local residents. The original title was: Ending Federal Gridlock and Restoring Constitutional Progressive Governance. But my circle of readers/critics gagged on that title, and said I needed a shorter one. But the longer title better reflects, I think, my perspective that American governance is best served with active and progress-related state governments - not a libertarian argument. All the best.

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John S-2 wrote 457 days ago

Payne:

This is a well written and cited book, and does an excellent job of defining the Libertarian view point. But frankly I don’t buy a large portion of your arguments or interpretations of data and court rulings that lay clime to the need for a smaller and more limited federal government as the answer to gridlock. Many of the citations could be argued in another way. As a book with popular appeal, I think most of your well-reasoned but Libertarian arguments will go right over most peoples head. Interesting, but since I lived through the thirties, I don’t want to go back there. Your recommendations are backward-looking rather than forward. I don’t want to go back to the future.

John S.

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