Discussions > Amazon Review/Beginning the Discussion
As a history teacher and an ambitious young adult concerned with this nation's prosperity, (or, perpetuity, to borrow a term from the book) Mr. King's book is of dire importance to all citizens. It is concise, it is accurate, it is well sourced. It is not focused only on detailing the problems, the 'how we got here'; the tone reaches for something larger and does so with harsh realities that do not lose sight of optimism. It is focused on how can we improve on the amazing progress we have already made. And it puts forth the exact foundation of thinking and concrete solutions and ideas to our problems so that all that is left is slight refinement and small details to fill in the blanks.
In addition, this book is of incredible personal importance to me as I have struggled over the past 8 years or so to put my ideas and words down onto paper just as this book has done. I have been told by countless many that my ideas, which are eerily similar to Mr. King's but simply not as developed, are not realistic. I accept these cynical views because I come from a perspective that is wholly idealistic in ambition, yet all too aware of the great challenges standing in front of such logical advancement of our human democratic systems. But I am not willing to throw in the towel and let cynicism doom us to this failed status quo.
To quote the author, and I have mixed in some of my own commentary bracketed in by three asterisks***:
***Priority Principles that must be added to our system***
1.Simplicity: We must demand simplicity if we are to ever achieve the kind of transparency that will allow citizens to keep a watchful eye on their governments. ***(Suggests limits on pages for laws as well as limits on quantity of laws - only slight refinement and minor details are needed to put this into action)*** i.e. Of the 20 pages allowed per law, the first page should include a brief summary in simple language--rather than legal-speak--that explains the purpose of the law, the underlying assumptions and the principle(s) upon which it is based, and the associated penalties.
Once the laws are limited in both size (no more than 20 pages) and quantity (no more than 500 national and another 500 state and local), the quality, fairness and consistency of those laws can improve because legislative and judicial bodies will have more time to spend on each law.
Of the 20 pages allowed per law, the first page should include a brief summary in simple language--rather than legal-speak--that explains the purpose of the law, the underlying assumptions and the principle(s) upon which it is based, and the associated penalties.
The first page should also include the review schedule. For example, a new law might be reviewed annually for the first five years, then once every five years after that to verify that the desired result of the law is being achieved and that it is still appropriate and needed over time. (A good idea since there are still laws remaining "on the books" from the 1800s in many states. Just Google "laws still on the books" or click on the link in the footnote.56 It's eye opening.)
The next page or two should include a systems thinking model (where appropriate) that defines the relevant system and models how it works. In most cases, this systems thinking (also called a systems dynamics or SD) model could be a full simulation model used to test the alternative approaches that led to the decision, or a model that estimates the costs of the law. This model can be used again during the review periods (defined on the first page) to verify that the model is representing reality. If not, the model should be adjusted and the law refined as necessary. This scheduled review and adjustment process is what makes it a living law. So instead of throwing out the old law and replacing it with a new one, most of the time the laws (and the systems thinking models they are based on) would continue to be refined over time. ***This, it might be argued, is what the constitution was envisioned as being a 'living document'***
2.Perpetuity: We must start to emphasize the principle of perpetuity if governments are to ever become self-sustaining in order to minimize the burden they impose on their citizens. ***Individual Empowerment System replaces Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Overall Healthcare System, Welfare, Unemployment, Retirement, Estate Taxes. These are some of the major drivers of our debt as shown in David Wessel's Red Ink that details the federal budget - There is much more detail on the Individual Empowerment System in the book, I do not wish to completely reveal the author's work in the review. With some refinement and further research and calculation, I see no reason why it cannot be viable.***
3.The Greatest Good: We must emphasize the Greatest Good if humans are to ever achieve the enduring peace and prosperity we desire for ourselves and our children. ***Pretty self explanatory, legislation cannot really force people to adhere to this, the collective citizenry must make it a priority through our actions by demanding solutions like put forth in this book are enacted***
4.Remove the Money: We must remove, as much as possible, money from the election process because as long as money is a factor, corruption and fraud will continue. ***Also self explanatory. But also the greatest hurdle. Suggestions are put forth but not in great enough detail. Fixing the first two priority principles cannot happen without this last action accompanying them and vice versa for the efforts would be stalled otherwise. There are simple ways to remove the money from politics, especially if done through the simplicity of shorter legislation. Publicly funded solutions like the Fair Elections Now Act, in my humble opinion, do not get to the root cause of money poisoning elections and as a result, poisoning our governing process. The money needs to go completely. The yard signs culture MUST be a thing of the past. And they can be. Why should they not be eliminated? Everyone is connected to information and candidates over the internet. The money is politics is wasteful and better spent elsewhere.***
It is simply a logical path of think to assume that the systems we live under are too far along to be altered in such a (perceived) radical fashion. In reality, as the book lays out even more logically, the ideas for transformation are not at all radical and in fact, are quite simple, logical, and frankly, they are vital if human systems are to reach their maximum potential
Mr. King, if you are reading this review, and I'm sure you are given the personal responses you have given to the reviewers on this page, we must correspond further so we can propel the grassroots movement you so desire forward, and put forth the changes necessary in absolute terms so that the citizens of this country can enact these changes as effectively as possible against the strong opposing forces that will most assuredly resist. Look forward to hearing from you.
As a history teacher and an ambitious young adult concerned with this nation's prosperity, (or, perpetuity, to borrow a term from the book) Mr. King's book is of dire importance to all citizens. It is concise, it is accurate, it is well sourced. It is not focused only on detailing the problems, the 'how we got here'; the tone reaches for something larger and does so with harsh realities that do not lose sight of optimism. It is focused on how can we improve on the amazing progress we have already made. And it puts forth the exact foundation of thinking and concrete solutions and ideas to our problems so that all that is left is slight refinement and small details to fill in the blanks.
In addition, this book is of incredible personal importance to me as I have struggled over the past 8 years or so to put my ideas and words down onto paper just as this book has done. I have been told by countless many that my ideas, which are eerily similar to Mr. King's but simply not as developed, are not realistic. I accept these cynical views because I come from a perspective that is wholly idealistic in ambition, yet all too aware of the great challenges standing in front of such logical advancement of our human democratic systems. But I am not willing to throw in the towel and let cynicism doom us to this failed status quo.
To quote the author, and I have mixed in some of my own commentary bracketed in by three asterisks***:
***Priority Principles that must be added to our system***
1.Simplicity: We must demand simplicity if we are to ever achieve the kind of transparency that will allow citizens to keep a watchful eye on their governments.
***(Suggests limits on pages for laws as well as limits on quantity of laws - only slight refinement and minor details are needed to put this into action)***
i.e. Of the 20 pages allowed per law, the first page should include a brief summary in simple language--rather than legal-speak--that explains the purpose of the law, the underlying assumptions and the principle(s) upon which it is based, and the associated penalties.
Once the laws are limited in both size (no more than 20 pages) and quantity (no more than 500 national and another 500 state and local), the quality, fairness and consistency of those laws can improve because legislative and judicial bodies will have more time to spend on each law.
Of the 20 pages allowed per law, the first page should include a brief summary in simple language--rather than legal-speak--that explains the purpose of the law, the underlying assumptions and the principle(s) upon which it is based, and the associated penalties.
The first page should also include the review schedule. For example, a new law might be reviewed annually for the first five years, then once every five years after that to verify that the desired result of the law is being achieved and that it is still appropriate and needed over time. (A good idea since there are still laws remaining "on the books" from the 1800s in many states. Just Google "laws still on the books" or click on the link in the footnote.56 It's eye opening.)
The next page or two should include a systems thinking model (where appropriate) that defines the relevant system and models how it works. In most cases, this systems thinking (also called a systems dynamics or SD) model could be a full simulation model used to test the alternative approaches that led to the decision, or a model that estimates the costs of the law. This model can be used again during the review periods (defined on the first page) to verify that the model is representing reality. If not, the model should be adjusted and the law refined as necessary. This scheduled review and adjustment process is what makes it a living law. So instead of throwing out the old law and replacing it with a new one, most of the time the laws (and the systems thinking models they are based on) would continue to be refined over time.
***This, it might be argued, is what the constitution was envisioned as being a 'living document'***
2.Perpetuity: We must start to emphasize the principle of perpetuity if governments are to ever become self-sustaining in order to minimize the burden they impose on their citizens.
***Individual Empowerment System replaces Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Overall Healthcare System, Welfare, Unemployment, Retirement, Estate Taxes. These are some of the major drivers of our debt as shown in David Wessel's Red Ink that details the federal budget - There is much more detail on the Individual Empowerment System in the book, I do not wish to completely reveal the author's work in the review. With some refinement and further research and calculation, I see no reason why it cannot be viable.***
3.The Greatest Good: We must emphasize the Greatest Good if humans are to ever achieve the enduring peace and prosperity we desire for ourselves and our children.
***Pretty self explanatory, legislation cannot really force people to adhere to this, the collective citizenry must make it a priority through our actions by demanding solutions like put forth in this book are enacted***
4.Remove the Money: We must remove, as much as possible, money from the election process because as long as money is a factor, corruption and fraud will continue.
***Also self explanatory. But also the greatest hurdle. Suggestions are put forth but not in great enough detail. Fixing the first two priority principles cannot happen without this last action accompanying them and vice versa for the efforts would be stalled otherwise. There are simple ways to remove the money from politics, especially if done through the simplicity of shorter legislation. Publicly funded solutions like the Fair Elections Now Act, in my humble opinion, do not get to the root cause of money poisoning elections and as a result, poisoning our governing process. The money needs to go completely. The yard signs culture MUST be a thing of the past. And they can be. Why should they not be eliminated? Everyone is connected to information and candidates over the internet. The money is politics is wasteful and better spent elsewhere.***
It is simply a logical path of think to assume that the systems we live under are too far along to be altered in such a (perceived) radical fashion. In reality, as the book lays out even more logically, the ideas for transformation are not at all radical and in fact, are quite simple, logical, and frankly, they are vital if human systems are to reach their maximum potential
Mr. King, if you are reading this review, and I'm sure you are given the personal responses you have given to the reviewers on this page, we must correspond further so we can propel the grassroots movement you so desire forward, and put forth the changes necessary in absolute terms so that the citizens of this country can enact these changes as effectively as possible against the strong opposing forces that will most assuredly resist. Look forward to hearing from you.
Bravo and thank you.
Regards,
Lyle Silverman