This is a multi-part series examining the worst year in American History: 1913.
Put together, each of the unfortunate changes in the American system which happened in 1913 would have resulted in some problems probably more manageable each on their own. As they have combined, however, they've put our country on a path where power is concentrated among a few. 1913 was indeed a very bad year for the United States of America. Let's review:
All of these things have a couple of things in common.
First, they substantially changed the careful controls designed into the Constitution.
There was no power to tax income in the Constitution because money causes government to expand.
A democracy wasn't created, but rather a republic with a balance between representatives of the people and representatives of the states. This provided a buffer against the problems inherit in true democracies.
The Constitution granted power to Congress to coin money and regulate its value. Congress should not delegate this power, which it has done in spite of the Constitution and the Founder's views on the subject. The Founders wanted transparency and accountability with regard to monetary systems so that the electorate would hold Congress accountable for sound money.
All of these provisions limited the size, scope and influence of government.
The Confucian Cycle explains how governments collapse because of individual desires. The Founders understood human nature and tried to create a system that worked with human nature rather than against it. The idea was to have the various branches of government watch each other and keep each other in check, hopefully breaking the Confucian Cycle (even if that's not what they called it).
The second thing these changes have in common is that they require an electorate to remain somewhat ignorant. Ignorant of the principles taught in the Constitution, ignorant of the checks and balances established to keep government within its bounds and ignorant of the liberty given up when the changes were made.
Sometimes, it takes some dishonesty on the part of those espousing changes to pull the wool over our eyes. Humans seem to be in an everlasting cycle of humility causing hard work and strong morality, which leads to great prosperity, which leads to pride (manifested by desires for wealth, power, whatever), which leads to strife and contention, which brings us full circle back to humility. There's a reason the phrase "those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it" is so hackneyed and so true - the Confucian Cycle keeps happening even though we should know better.
Fortunately, there are some things we can do.
There may yet be hope to turn things around. Maybe 2013 can be a very good year for the country.
What does Chinese history have to teach America that Joe Biden doesn't know?
Go back to the original intent: It was expected people would serve 1-2 terms and then go home. It's a GOOD thing they don't serve longer. Look at the mess they make when it's a life's work.
what about 2001, the year 3,000 american citizens were savagely killed by islamic extremists?
what about 1941 when japan killed almost 2,000 of our soldiers in an unprovoked attack?
what about 1996 when timothy mcveigh killed 168 people because no one would listen to his idiotic nonsense?
i think many people would disagree with your view of american history as to the term "worst"
All of the things you've mentioned are terrible, but they didn't have significant national long term consequences--consequences that result in the reduction of our liberty with each passing year.
The things you mentioned will always happen--you can't stop crazy people from doing stupid things. It's sane people who do evil things in the name of good that scare me.
If like minded individuals could find a way to repeal the 16th Amendment, the American Dream would be awakened. At this moment in time, The New American Dream is: an affordable rental home, decent ISP, a place to Barbecue Freely, Fresh Clean Water. With a repeal of the 16th Amendment, the dream could improve, Carpenters would reappear, Maytag would bring everyone back, Cardboard interests would emerge and Car companies would return to the source for your wildest dream aka 500HP and other such remedies.
Everyone would pay a Use Tax on any goods or services (Including Lawyers) over the cost of $1000.
With Cash in your pocket and a bird in your hand, this will once again be..a splendid Land.