i've been thinking about the relationship between people and their governments... and i realized that government isn't anything that it should be.

now, this may be quite obvious to everyone else, but it's a new thought for me (so bear with me, here :)). america is supposedly a representative democracy. in which case the elected officials in our government represent the people.

so why is it that so many people are unhappy with the government? why is it that laws are seen as restrictions instead of... how would one phrase it... protective guidelines?

is it because people don't vote? or because the government is corrupt? or both? or is it the structure of our government?

random question that i must ask before i can continue with above thought process: why is it that everybody has a different opinion? (well, obviously not everyone has a different opinion. but why are there so many different ones?) everybody wants the world to be a happy, healthy, safe place. don't they? so why is it so hard to agree on how to get there?

anyway. government. it seems to me that government should be something created by the population, something that is constantly changing according to the will of the majority. and why doesn't that happen in... the u.s., for example? (sorry, but america is the country i know best. :)) it seems like what happens is politicians trick the population into thinking that they should be elected, and then go against the will of the people for 2-4 years, or however long their term is. and everybody complains while they're in office, and then only 30% or something even bothers to vote at the next election. (it's probably not 30%. i can't remember what the right number is... something low though. something pathetic.) so, the whole system is stupid...

how could it be changed? why are people so uninterested in the way their lives are run? why are politicians interested in obtaining a position when they don't even want to serve their people?

maybe it's because everything is so big. people think their vote doesn't matter; people think the national government doesn't care what their opinion is. (which is actually kind of true. i mean, as Prez Dubya said himself, 'I'm not going to base foreign policy on popular opinion.' - or something like that. hello?! the entire government is based on popular opinion!!! but anywho...)

so maybe the problem could be solved by changing the structure of the government. or not even really changing the structure, but emphasizing local government more than national government. if things are localized, people will feel more in charge of what's happening in the government. things should start from the bottom up, or in other words from little town governments all the way up to national government, instead of vice versa.

or maybe the population should have more control over the president while he's in office. i mean, right now we can't do anything after he's (it's always a he!) elected, can we? (not an expert on the u.s. constitution... sad. we learned about it in eighth grade, but i have a pathetic memory. good thing i have american government next year. :)) we just sit there for four years while he breaks campaign pledges and ruins the environment and starts unwanted wars...

oh! i have another random question: why is it that the UN isn't punishing the US for totally going against what they wanted? i mean, come on! punish us somehow! the US deserves to get a slap across the face (a peaceful one, mind you) for being so... i don't know... impudent. people have gotten so nationalistic it's sick and wrong... we seriously need a scolding.

but. i'm getting off topic.

where was i? (goodness, this update is so long. i'm sorry, for all of you who have made it this far. i'm almost, done, i promise. :))

so - in conclusion :) - i really think we need some sort of governmental reform, at least in the US. some kind of revival of local government, or a reminder to people that government affects everyone's lives, and that everyone should therefore vote. and pay attention to what's going on, at least locally.

because if government was less governing, negative, and destructive and more creative, protective and representative, it would be so cool....

okay. i'm finished.