As the election for US President reaches its final 24 hours it behooves us to reassess our desires and goals in light of politics and politicians. What IS the goal that we wish to accomplish. Is it more time to pursue our own desires? Is it more money in our own pockets to "get" more "things"? Is it more recognition of who and what we are as members of a unique society? My contention is that it is to bring about a new consciousness that incorporates the diversity of individuals working together for a more just, tolerant and peaceful society.

How can we, the people of the world bring this about? Let us look to the past to find the future. The founders of the USA said it very eloquently. That's right, The Declaration of Independence. "In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

This preamble states that when the "people" have determined that the system of government that they are a part no longer serves the purpose of those individuals then it is those individuals right as a community or fellowship to speak out and seek to discuss this with those that have been placed in positions of power. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

In my last article Sustainability Now, I stated that the Pursuit of Happiness is to stand up for the model of government that follows our desires. If that government does NOT stand for what the PEOPLE of that society stand for then they have the DUTY to overthrow and institute a NEW government based on the ideals of the society that THEY determine is correct.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

Indeed our founding fathers clearly stated that the change in government or shall we say viewpoint of a society should not be lightly changed. However,

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

If that system of government does NOT change with the will of the people, then, we the people have the right, and duty to overthrow that system. To overthrow a system does not necessarily mean that we must take up arms, and become individuals who destroy property, or individuals who disagree with us, that would make us terrorists. HOWEVER, we should and CAN make the necessary changes in the world.

The next section of the Declaration of Independence lists the abuses of power that the British Crown placed upon the colonies.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

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For protecting them by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: *

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: *

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: *

For depriving us in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury: *

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses: *

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: *

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: * For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

Let us examine some of these abuses of power in light of current US policy both domestically and abroad

Here is one very critical example of the current government's "refused his Assent to Laws". The first amendment of the constitution grants us the right to free assembly. Have you tried to have a "protest" in most states? The restrictive laws of many states and the requirement to have a PERMIT to stand together and voice our opinions have reached epic proportions. Naomi Wolf in her book, Give Me Liberty, shows the difficulty in obtaining "permits" to voice opinions in New York City and other cities in this supposed republic.

The 1960's were an era of protests. Civil Rights and Anti-War are just two examples of these marches. When Governor Wallace refused to "grant" Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. a permit in Selma Alabama, he marched anyway. At Kent State, students were told they were not allowed to march, they did anyway. True, there were some terrible abuses of police power during these marches. Any protest today, would likely result in the same. Does this mean that we should NOT stand up for the very rights we have been granted? I leave that answer to you dear reader.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren.

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We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. *

We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. * We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence.

They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We know from history that the British Crown was "deaf to the voice of justice..", is our government any better? While even the "poor" in the US are better off than the "middle" class of other countries, it is safe to say that the cost of basic services in the US is much higher than it is in other countries.

The current economic crisis, according to the Wall Street Journal, Federal Reserve Board, and many others "in the know" state that while fuel prices have gone down, the cost of groceries has gone up since the economic crisis began. The now over $900 billion dollar bail out is NOT succeeding. True, those with money are beginning to "buy" again on the stock exchange, yet most Americans who were able to have retirement benefits have seen the reduction of their "nest egg's" by almost 40 % since October 1, 2008. Some "experts" say that the current reduction in oil prices amounts to a savings of over $200 per month for the "average" family. This in itself seems like a good thing, however according to Inflation Data.com, it won't matter much because the adjustments in consumer prices lag significantly behind the commodity pricing.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare.

That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown,and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved;and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce,and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

As we are ALL representatives of the United States, what do we do? Is a political solution the only one there is? Obviously not, call me a cynic, but unless there is a fundamental change in the system itself, most Americans will continue much as they are now, a lot less income, with quite a few less rights. According to the published National Strategy for Homeland Security, Americans are to:

"In order to complete this truly national effort, we also must encourage and draw upon an informed and active citizenry. For instance, citizens should each understand what to do if they observe suspicious behavior in their community and what to do in the event of an attack "

What is suspicious behavior? Standing up for something you disagree with? Eating tofu, having a "alternate" sexual preference, being a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Wicca, Heathen, Shamanic practitioner, advocate for change? As this document says that Homeland Security is the responsibility of :

"The non-profit sector, including volunteer and relief groups and faith-based organizations..."

Have all these groups received training in the definition of "suspicious behavior"? Is suspicious behavior, men wearing hats and going to worship on Saturday instead of Sunday?; or , women who cover their heads and wear long dresses?; or is it the people who wear "strange" symbols around their necks and go into the woods or sing songs around a fire?. Is it brown people, red people, yellow people?

Another question is begged here, WHICH faith based organizations? True, community based, which are sometimes faith based, organizations do indeed serve a much needed interface during times of trouble within their communities from natural disasters, shortages, etc.. but "watching for suspicious behavior? Sound like Nazi Germany's call to "look out for the foreigner and Jew who seeks to destroy you." This is unacceptable and we as members of a World Community speak out against such tyrannical and fear mongering statements.

All over the net there are groups that urge and are binding together for world peace. In my own research I have found 10 organizations and petitions that are seeking individuals who have a GLOBAL vision that includes all peoples of like mind to urge NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL leadership to seek world peace NOT world domination.

I contend that this is only PART of the solution. The strangle hold on the world economic system by the monied few, needs to be broken. One such model is Humanistic Economics. According to Wikipedia, Humanistic Economics is defined as:

Humanistic economics is a school of economic theory identified with E. F. Schumacher. Proponents argue for "humanity-first" economic theories as opposed to the ideas in mainstream economic theory which they see as putting financial gain before people.

Humanistic economics has been defined as "a perspective that leans heavily on humanistic psychology, moral philosophy, humanistic sociology, and last but not least, on common sense. In more formal terms, contemporary humanistic economics seeks to both describe, analyze and critically assess prevailing socio-economic institutions and policies, and provide normative (value) guidelines on how to improve them in terms of human (not merely "economic") welfare. Basic human needs, human rights, human dignity, human equality, freedom, economic democracy and economic sustainability provide the framework".[1]

Humanistic economics focuses on human economic activity as being social and altruistically constructed, not just individualistically and selfishly derived. The importance of the ethical individual living within a vibrant local community, not merely as a lone wolf nor as a consumer of mass culture and production on a global scale, is often stressed. The importance of accounting for externalities (items not always put on the economic balance sheet like pollution or loss of biodiversity) are other key concepts.

This system is a way to break the bonds that the current economic system seeks to continue our enslavement. Today the West teaches that more things, is equal to a better life. This is currently falling apart. We do not need a new car every three years, more iPods, a BlueRay disk system, a VCR, Hi-Definition TV, Satellite Radio, huge energy consuming homes with 5 extra rooms that stand empty.

The Humanistic Economic system:

* removes the central banks completely.

* changes the complete nature and function of the word politician.

* eliminates 95%+ of today's bureaucracy.

* ultimately reduces 95% of the military machine.

* becomes a full service employer with a minimal work week.

Seek out same minded individuals. Find those that think like YOU for sustainable HUMAN systems. Love and respect each other and your differences whether race, creed, age, or sex. Strive to create a society from the bottom up that respects each other and the planet. As the Mayans and the Hopi say, the FIFTH WORLD is upon us. Become part of the solution don't perpetuate the problem.

There is hope, and true freedom available NOW. Take to the streets, defy unjust laws, and break the back of the those who would enslave you.

Feel free to contact me: Alfred Willowhawk.