My Experience On Capitol Hill
By Christopher Rudy
I’m not the best story-teller. Moreso the visionary. But sometimes a true story is the best way to convey the highest ideal of Constitutional Freedom that speaks truth to power.
By a rather bizarre sequence of events, I found myself giving the keynote address to ten agencies of the Federal government on Capitol Hill, Washington DC. It was a Future’s Summit to brainstorm on the possible futures for the 13 year Bicentennial Era. The year was 1974, the month of November. I was 25 years old.
Flashback to that time. The Vietnam War had recently ended. While yet burdened by so much war insanity, the public’s conscience was shifting from war-making to peace-building. There was a nationwide release of hope, faith and charity that looked forward to a better future.
I had been to Washington DC a few years earlier to demonstrate against the Vietnam War. As a photojournalist, I attempted to capture the spirit of two major demonstrations, perhaps the first of the “million man” variety in the U.S.
This time I had a much smaller audience but quality made up for quantity. The place was the Science and Astronautics Chamber of the Rayburn Building. I gave the last speech at a three day Future’s Summit sponsored by The World Future Society and the Committee For The Future. Present were directors of The United States Communications Agency, The US Information Agency, The American Revolutionary Bicentennial Commission and leaders of seven other federal agencies that were attending to see what the 13 year “Bicentennial Era” -- from Declaration to Constitution – might look like.
Can you say “Revolution”? Do you realize the revolutionary changes the world was going through back then with the accelerated changes brought on globally by the instant emotional connections of satellite-TV reporting of global tragedies and triumph? Do you think the whole world didn’t morn the murder of JFK and Martin Luther King? Are you aware how the world changed with the moon landing that showed how small our world had become from a lunar perspective?
Flash forward to the faster acceleration of changes following the Bicentennial Era. Consider the mind-boggling change (for old-timers) with the Internet. Look how the whole world mourned the 9-11 disaster in solidarity with the American people. Think how fast the whole world woke up to 9-11 truth. It took a few years but it took 50 years for the whole world to find out that Pearl Harbor was an inside job too! Net reality has become the new world pioneer of “freedom of speech, assembly, press, and right to petition government”.
The future of freedom requires we learn from the past… or are condemned to repeat it.
So here I was speaking before the TV cameras recording this Future’s Summit – picture and synopsis at www.heartcom.org/CapHill.htm. Before me were many independent visionaries, futurists, NASA scientists, unified field theorists, and future-looking representatives in government agencies.
Earlier that year, for four weeks in June, I attended the World Game Studies Workshop with Buckminster Fuller at the University of Pennsylvania. Early on, my views were well received and I was invited to give a lecture to the group. The director of this workshop was sufficiently “moved” by the response to my talk that he feared I would take over the agenda for the rest of the workshop! But I had no such plans. A book was produced on our research -- Energy, Earth and Everyone – that dealt with hydrogen conversion technologies that would replace fossil fuels. The reason it hasn’t happened, of course, isn’t because the know-how (science) is not available.
One person at the World Game, appreciated the “world-healing” communications revolution I was talking about and invited me to attend the Future’s Summit in the fall and present my views there. He was an influential member with the organizers of the Future’s Summit, so I prepared ten papers to give to the ten agency directors that attended.
As the Future’s summit was concluding, it was this friend who got everyone’s attention and introduced my concluding address. I spoke behind the podium in the middle of the chamber with the Great Seal of the United States prominently on the front of it.
My message was simple. I only spoke about 10 minutes. I explained how cable TV was wiring the nation with satellite downlinks to cable TV stations. Congress had mandated public access to the new CATV medium with channels required for public access on all cable TV networks.
I explained how the Revolution could be celebrated with an electronic upgrade of “freedom of the press” with this new “printing press” (cable TV).
I explained how “freedom of speech” could be upgraded with use of the new portable video cameras whereby people could originate their own multi-media programs – with help at the public access studios… explaining how video is more “friendly” than film -- can’t make a mistake – just erase over errors until it “speaks for itself” the way you want.
I explained how “freedom of assembly” could be upgraded with replay of these locally originated programs over the public access network on the local CATV system.
And this is where it gets interesting – the mix of all these elements at the heart of the Spirit of Revolution that forged the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
What I explained was the new interactive potential of “Freedom of Speech”. Not just an individual’s creation of original programming, but the instant evaluation of the program by everyone in the “assembly” of people watching the program. This is what the founders understood as “town hall meetings” because that was the only way to meet back then. But interactive cable TV could change that. Indeed, every interactive network in the whole world could be an “electronic town hall meeting”.
The point I was making was that “We the People” -- through CATV – could celebrate the American Revolution with a Space Age upgrade of our horse-and-buggy legislative system, improving accountability to Constitutional principles with an interactive process that provides a beacon of freedom for the entire world that was fast becoming a “global village” in the terms of futurist and visionary Marshall McLuhan.
There was one key problem, I explained. How do you get a hundred or a million people responding to the same program at the same time without creating noise? You can’t without a “real time” (instant, moment to moment) system of response ability -- that by it’s availability and use, encourages responsibility for the governing process. Obviously, you can’t expect people to be responsible for their lives and their government without the means of “town-hall” response ability consistent with the capabilities of the “come-into-community” (communication) technology of the day.
What is needed, I explained, is a standardized framework of evaluation criteria that reflected – and perfected -- the core “first principles” of the Constitution itself. This frame of reference -- an interactive interface for mass-to-mass communications -- could provide context and meaning for collective response during public discourse on an issue. People could both originate and evaluate programs and then originate new programs that highlighted the consensus of consciousness referenced by the “evaluation criteria” of the standardized interface.
I explained how that evaluation itself would have to be truly “universal” in the languaging of the processes of consciousness it framed. To the extent it involved the laws and language of consciousness at the quintessential foundation of self-governance, it would raise the standard of truly Spiritual “God government” that U.S. Founders aspired to.
In summary, I explained how the new cable TV technology for informed choice could provide an upgraded information processing system for response ability and accountability that fulfilled the pure intent of the Constitution. I called this electronic upgrade of our core freedoms a process of “information’s ecology” that would “recycle” general knowledge to empower specific wisdom for the rEVOLUTION – emphasizing 90% of the word – that represented the highest ideals of the American way.
My final point was that the Bicentennial would ideally celebrate the American Revolution through upgrading the first principles of the Constitution that make responsible representative government work. I explained how the installed and operational CATV technology provided a “vehicle” for the final ingredient for mass-to-mass communications as has never before been possible for humanity.
I emphasized that the interactive interface for integrating our core freedoms in the Bill of Rights would provide a more universal language of Constitutional virtue, principles and processes at the heart of genuine freedom. And I concluded with the importance of finishing – globally – what U.S. Founders began. And that clearly, this would be the best way to celebrate the Spirit of the American Revolution.
When I was finished speaking I offered the 10 papers for the 10 agencies. There was dead silence. No one moved for the longest time. I didn’t realize I “nailed it”. All I knew, with the Summit quickly adjourned, was that the 10 agency heads who came forward would not look me in the eye. No one wanted to talk to me..
And then a junior-college vice president from New York City came up to me and said, "You know, the problem with this is…” – pausing as his eyes got wider and began speaking quickly – “this would eliminate bureaucracy... and you're not going to hear from these agencies of the federal government."
I didn’t realize that government had become a “growth industry”. You would have thought that a definitive way to restore restraint and accountability for government growth would be welcome. But I went “too far”: I made a simple case for the profound implications of actually upgrading our horse-and-buggy Bill of Rights with state of the arts communication capabilities.
It was simple enough. So simple that everyone knew it would work.
It never occurred to me that our government had been hijacked by big business in collusion with government agencies. I didn’t know that government had become a protection racket for oil industries, legal and illegal drugs, drug-based health care, military-industrial contractors, soulless education and the giant media conglomerates who represented the secret power elite societies who want to continue profiting from their monopolies in all the major markets.
I was naïve. But it still doesn’t occur to a lot of people that government growth and power is out of control. Many can’t see the solution because they don’t see the problem -- or feel too overwhelmed with the scope of the problem -- to realize the simple solution and its profound implications.
But think about this – someone has to do it! What would a Constitution-based upgrade of our core freedoms look like? How would it fulfill the rEVOLUTION in self-governing “informed choice” as was the pure intent of U.S. Founders? How could our system of electing representatives “of, by and for the people” ever work if there was a complete disconnect from “Net reality” – a system of representation whereby the best and brightest can rise through a system of "information's ecology" to provide common sense of the best and brightest?
Now that's a revolutionary concept! Common sense providing the best and brightest leaders for America. Indeed, it was Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE that sparked the American Revolution. And heaven knows it would be an upgraded version of COMMON SENSE that would lead to leadership based on virtue and talent that "speaks for itself".
Back then I was talking about the capability of interactive CATV. Now that interactive capability is on the Internet. The “head end” of the CATV system – and your public access studio – is your desk-top or lap-top computer. Desk-top video (or e-mails) for public origination of programs is reinventing “town hall meetings” on tens of thousands of network communities, yahoo newsgroups, etc. But still there is no “universal interface” that involves and evolves our individual and collective conscience in the process.
Why? It would make government accountable to the purpose for which it serves. That may not be politically correct to the fascist forces that have hijacked government, but it is morally right, especially in context of the current crisis facing global civilization.
Today – 32 years since my speaking truth to power -- I would add that the future of civilization may well depend on the resurrection of a virtue-centric process at the heart of informed choice, representative government and holistic healing of ALL our social, political and economic institutions. I’ve had a lot of time to think about it. The heart of the matter – the heart of the Constitution – is still the INTERACTIVE means to synergize our core freedoms in the Bill of Rights. It’s still an INTERACTIVE interface process that will define, refine, “combine” (synergize) and shine our God-given gifts and talents that made America great in the first place.
If the dominant global superpower doesn’t do it, who will? If it doesn’t begin with “US” – in the “United States” – where will it begin? If not us, who?
In short, if the United States doesn’t get its Revolutionary act together, we’re toast. We didn’t celebrate our Revolutionary heritage with much more than token 4th of July fireworks during the Bicentennial. Perhaps it wasn’t time. But if not now, when?
Freedom of conscience is the divine right expressed at the heart of the Bill of Rights through “Freedom of Religion”. If there’s not freedom for conscientious common sense, we don’t have any freedom at all. Without this higher conscience of moral virtue being represented with the response ability that encourages responsibility for good government, look what happens with the abuse of power at the top!
Why is “freedom of religion” the capstone for all the others? If we don’t represent true spirituality at the heart of all our other freedoms, we become slave to politically correct “BS” (Belief System) that is morally wrong. Without virtue at the heart of it, values become corrupt. The system becomes broken. People fear the government. Tyranny gets a foothold.
If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always got. Just look at the bankrupting of America for war profiteers and power elite banksters intent on creating chaos through which to forge their totalitarian order. How long does it take for people to realize that this Machiavellian agenda is intent on destroying freedom?
It is the aspiration of genuine freedom to be regulated,
governed and increasingly perfected by “divine order” – a Constitution – that
facilitates a process to “make it so”. It naturally follows that the heart of
that Constitution would honor all our other freedoms from the “top down” -- with
spiritual intent at the top that, at least, “checks and balances” the use and
abuse of power.
When will we stop denying the core freedoms of speech, assembly, religion and press FOR THE WHOLE WORLD that we once claimed was our divine right? If we don’t affirm those rights between our ears and through our network communities, how will anyone anywhere in the world trust our words of “freedom and liberty for all”?
Common Sense would say that either we continue to destroy ourselves with empire madness or one of the nuclear powers may assume they have the moral high ground in sending missiles to level the playing field.
The Bush doctrine of preemptive first strikes
was used against us by the Japanese.
It was called “Pearl Harbor”, and it had the same effect
to set up WWII as was orchestrated by 9-11 to set up
the endless “War on Terror” leading to WWIII.
-see:
www.heartcom.org/TruthSetsFree.htm
The Iran plans of the BUSHwhackers could trigger WWIII. It is a blatant power play by corporate profiteers and complicit media moguls who would destroy all that the American Spirit holds sacred. This sinister love of power is adverse to the power of love. It is destroying freedom in the name of security. It utilizes provocateur terror and chaos that it is fomenting an excuse for more “war powers” to control the physical and human resources of the planet. It is leading to totalitarian tyranny over the hearts and minds of mankind.
As I explained, our SYSTEM of self-government is based on response ability through good information. Without well-informed choice – with virtue-centric interactive processes that culture Truth and Love – government and media powers will keep informed choice FROM the people rather than “of, by and for the people”. Propaganda replaces principle. Might overpowers right. Subversion of the golden rule becomes, “He who has the gold -- black gold and monied power – makes the rules.”
You can’t expect people to be responsible for their lives or their government without response ability that is consistent with the communication capabilities of the day. Today, that capability is interactive but the corporate media is not – it’s one way programming -- their way. They rewrite history and reframe every issue to force their agenda. It is an agenda for furthering corporate interests, not public interests.
I’m not young and innocent any more. I don’t learn fast but I learn well. I still believe in the core principles of the Constitution, but I’m realistic about the collusion of federal government with giant corporations in an incestuous relationship of protection rackets.
Even back in 1974 there was a revolving door of directors between US regulatory agencies and the corporations they were supposed to be regulating. I didn’t know that the fix was in, as many insiders from that time – like Dr. Scott Peck, author of A World Waiting To Be Born -- have exposed so well since then.
But I’ve been diligent in finding the answers. Within months after my experience on the Capitol Hill, I discovered Jeremy Rifkin’s Peoples Bicentennial Commission, which explained how corporate tyranny was the new “King George”.
That movement obviously didn’t get much press in the corporate media because it stood for the U.S. Founders principles of checks and balances that giant corporations have increasingly usurped, rewriting laws that give corporations the same protection of individuals, but without the accountability of individuals. They have corrupted the Justice branch of government as well as the Executive branch. They have bought-off the Legislative branch.
Just look how blatant is the corporate collusion with government today. Not just Enron, Big Oil and Bush’s reelection campaigns financed by corporate media moguls. Not just Rumsfeld and Aspartame or Cheney and Halliburton. The major TV media are in bed with military-industrial contractors. Embedded reporters spin the news, government ad agencies create fake “news”, and Pentagon departments fabricate intelligence… all to “make a killing” on war with no accountability to the public’s interest for ending the war. It’s out of control.
People have always said I was ahead of my time. I always thought I was right on time. But perhaps there was a larger cycle that we all had to be “on time” for. How long will it take for the American people to resurrect the Constitution with an electronic Space Age upgrade for the “Family of Man” (global village).
What will it look like? Read the Legacy Project and the projects that follow to build the infrastructure Blueprint For A Golden Age.
There are good reasons why that time is now. We’re all connected – those reading this online – with an instant-everywhere connection. It’s a New World as profound in it’s potential as the New World of America that U.S. Founders were pioneering.
We’re ALL together in this connection as ONE community of many community networks. Enlightened Netizens aspire to being freely informed and upward-mobile with pure intent for the highest and best use of the CONSTITUTION of first principles for freedom and justice for all.
"It is at all times necessary,
and more particularly so during the progress of a revolution
and until right ideas confirm themselves by habit,
that we frequently refresh our
patriotism by reference to
First Principles".
- by Thomas Paine who
sparked the American Revolution with
COMMON SENSE,
the most successful pamphlet in history whose name and
flame
are the same
Support the Constitution – Support the LOVE Network,
Christopher
BOTTOM LINE QUOTABLES:
The Romans used to say that courage is not the only virtue, but it is the one virtue that makes the other virtues possible, especially moral courage. Quotes following. -CR
THE GOLDEN RULE OF GOVERNMENT:
"The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything
which would be unlawful for them to do themselves."
-- John Locke
:
"It is strangely absurd to suppose that a million human beings collected
together
are not under the same
moral laws
which bind them separately."
-- Thomas Jefferson
"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those
who,
in a time of moral crisis,
maintain their neutrality."
-- Dante, The Inferno
"If once [the people]
become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and
Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the
law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions."
-- Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 1787
THE HEART OF THE CONSTITUTION IS THE VIRTUE OF, BY AND FOR GREATER LOVE.
"Miracles do not cluster. Hold on to the Constitution of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands -- what has happened once in six thousand years may never happen again. Hold on to your Constitution, for if the American Constitution shall fail there will be anarchy throughout the world."
--Daniel Webster
"A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled
to against every government
on Earth... and what no just government should refuse."
-- Thomas Jefferson in a Letter
to James Madison, Paris, Dec. 20, 1787
"It is common observation here that our cause is
the cause of all mankind,
and we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own."
-- Benjamin Franklin
'When once a republic is corrupted, there is no
possibility of remedying
any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and
restoring
its lost principles; every other correction
is either useless or a new evil.'"
-- Thomas Jefferson: copied into his Commonplace Book.
"It's time we asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms intended for us by the Founding Fathers. James Madison said, ‘We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government.’ This idea that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power, is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man. This is the issue of this election: Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves." – Ronald Reagan October 27, 1964
KEYNOTE
FOR CONTEXT AND MEANING OF THE CONSTITUTION
"Do not separate text
from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the
Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of
illegitimate government"
-- James Madison,
Chief Architect of the Constitution
~~~~~~~~~
CopyRound 2006
Worldwide LOVE Foundation
all rights well-rounded
G.O.D
V I S I O N
-LOVE
MODEL-
the heart & mind of
Global TeLeComm~unity:
High touch HEART of high tech
With a higher understanding of
LOVE
Defining, Refining, Combining and
Shining
Our
God-given Gifts and Talents via
Net Standards
For an Economy based on
LOVE-centric Net Worth.
Understanding
the "Law of the Angles of G.O.D." (Geometry Of Divinity)
That frames the "Language of the Angels of LOVE" (Spirit of the Law)
To love with all your heart and all your
mind and all your soul,
and your Netizen neighbor in our Global Village as thyself.
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