The Freedom Flaw

The increasingly obvious shift toward authoritarianism is discussed on almost every news program. The dilemma is discussed from innumerable perspectives and consumes a large portion of these programs. The descriptions and theories on the problem are also numerous and varied as everyone appears to be searching for the solution. The chart below certainly confirms that Public Trust in Government has been steadily declining since the 1960’s and is currently at all-time lows.

A saying attributed often to Albert Einstein perhaps explains the reason this multitude of experts cannot identify the solution:

“In order to find the solution to a problem one must first identify the cause.”

This cause eludes discovery simply because these experts and authorities are looking in the wrong place. They confine their perspective to politics when the root cause is elsewhere.

Even in face of attempts to explain it, by the groups identified later in this article, It still evades detection because of a well-known psychological factor known as cognitive dissonance. When informed about what is causing this dilemma, most people dismiss the explanation out of hand.

A small group has identified the cause of this problem and has been attempting to inform the public for many years. The principle is well understood by the general public, and they accept it as causal in many aspects of life. So, let’s start off by explaining this idea in an area where most would understand and agree with this cause, effect and solution scenario.

Decision-making, when many people have a stake in the outcome, has a direct link to the concept of democracy. Group dynamics is the study of how individuals behave and interact within a group setting. We are going to focus on how decisions are made within a group setting when they utilize a voting method to discern the ‘Will of the People.’ This is typically understood to mean the ‘Will of the Majority’ of people in the group.

Most people understand it is a bit more complicated than just taking a vote.

•  In an open voting system, individuals vote in a manner that exposes their vote to others. In this situation, voting your conscience may have other consequences.
• In a secret ballot voting system, individuals vote in a manner that hides their vote from others. In this situation, voting your conscience does not have other consequences.

So how do these aspects lead us to the cause that is moving us toward authoritarianism?

Open Ballot Voting:

Voting in an open ballot system means that the individual’s vote is visible to others or recorded for all to see. It could be a show of hands, yeas and nays, ballots that include the I.D. of the voter, votes that have a record available, etc.

The voter is faced with the following considerations:

• Is my vote the best decision on the issue?
• Could there be any other consequences to how I vote from:
  • My friends, my enemies, my boss, my relatives, those opposed to my choice, affected individuals, organizations or groups, would someone pay me to vote their way, etc.

Secret Ballot Voting:

Voting in a secret ballot system means that the individual’s vote is unknown to anyone other than the voter and even the voter cannot prove how they voted.

The voter is faced with the following considerations:

• Is my vote the best decision on the issue?

Historically, open ballot formats have often developed forms of coercion, corruption, threats, rewards, other influencing factors that are negative in allowing the voter the ability to ‘vote their conscience.’

These are examples where the general public understands and agrees with the benefits of the secret ballot process in its avoidance of coercion, corruption, fear of retaliation and numerous problems related to the open ballot process.

Given this broad understanding of the benefits of secret ballot and the problems of the open ballot process:

• How does this lead us to the cause that is pushing us toward authoritarianism?
• How does this lead us to the elusive solution that everyone seems to be missing?
• How can we stop this movement, return to democracy and save the Great Experiment?

There are two small, non-profit organizations that have recognized the effects, found the cause, and identified the solution. They have attempted to publicize these findings for almost three decades to media, influencers, academics, politicians and organizations.

These efforts have received little to no response from any of those that have the resources and reach to elicit public attention and consideration of the concept/solution.

A summary of their efforts and linked references is listed below:

The Association to Improve Government:

• Articles, Letters to Editors, Influencers, New Media personalities, politicians, etc. span the last three decades.
• Establishment of a website to solicit public support, outline the mission, establish a blog and offer free membership to those seeking a solution to develop a movement.
• A YouTube, (Change Your World) presentation to simplify the concept to the public
• Published a fictional, mystery trilogy “Freedom Flaw” to highlight the concept.
  • Public Deception
  • Public Discovery
  • Public Action

The Congressional Research Institute:

• Established a website.
• Created a YouTube video entitled ‘The Cardboard Box Reform’ to demonstrate the scientific process that uncovered the cause in the US and demonstrate the solution.
• Advertised a full page in a major US newspaper to highlight the concept.

The Cause: The Congressional Reorganization Act of 1970 (Two particular elements)

• It opened all Committee meetings to the public and eliminated protection that allowed congressmen to discuss, negotiate and compromise in private to arrive at rational legislative without coercion from special interest groups, lobbyists, powerful individuals and organizations.
• It established an absolute open ballot system that assured coercion, corruption and retribution. It effectively legalized bribery in the form of campaign contributions, loss of job/position via party actions, public threats, and many other forms of pressure.
• The concept of ‘Transparency’ was the motivation and the perceived cure for the turmoil and public unrest of the 1960’s. In this case, the cure was much worse than the perceived illness.

The Effects: A continual and inevitable movement toward authoritarianism.

• We have seen this continual movement since 1970, and it may now be at the point where there is little chance of avoiding an authoritarian outcome.

The Solution:

• Return Committee meetings to closed sessions.
  • Keep the lobbyists in the lobby!
  • Allow our representatives to represent us.
• Require all voting in Congress to conform to a rigorous secret ballot process.

“The possibility of improving the political system has little chance
of success until our Representatives are given the same freedom
and protection that we demand for ourselves.”

The Freedom to vote their conscience and protection from threats/coercion for doing so.