This is a commentary on my colleague's work on
Indeed, the government have undergone many tweaks and redefined itself over the years, and in the years to come, continue to do so as the social patterns of its constituents continue to change. But I would like to call out the title of this commentary and its address in ambivalence and confusion. The title, "Today's United States government", I would like to pull out and with all due respect and proper permission, criticize on various topics of the author's writings.
First of all, the title itself mentions and positions the article to express the current state or denote a change in today's government. The sentence I could not bring myself to agree on would be the "Most things remain the same: U.S. Constitution grants citizens unalienable rights, Checks and balance system." most of the foundation our current constitutioin is based upon would be very likely the same as it was devised in 1989, but the slight renovations have been made in the national law-bound architecture. Through the course of history, our rights have been challenged and reinterpreted many times. Just a few to note, one of the innate, unalienable rights of the citizenship would be the freedom of speech. This is also included in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution but has been ruled out by the Supreme Court to be inhibited and abated ineffectiveness and subject to governmental control as it may noted from the "clear and present danger" opinion of Oliver Wendell Holmes in the case of Schenck v. United States (1919) which prohibited citizens from making harmful comments on the government or the public in "immediate" effect and "obvious" harm. This can be considered as a change and impediment upon the inalienable rights of a U.S. citizen. Notwithstanding, that's not all, the limits of free speech is further subject to tighter regulation by the Miller test and the Bad Tendency test. So many changes are made to just one amendment, and some states outright rebuke the rights in their jurisdiction by a selective process.
The development of technology and the coming of Infomation Age do improve the proliferation and swiftness of polls and surveys, but at the same time makes us vulnerable to exploits such as push polls and lack of participation in the public issues on foot and actual experience for some. It has both pros and cons in the changing public participations and available utilities.
The change for open-mindedness and diversity of the people in the government is exciting matter that would probably make the older generations to jump out of their shoes, it is fascinating that the general public is getting more and more accepting people of different nationalities, sexual orientation, and age groups to become active in political life and live in this so-called "free nation."
More or less, better or for worse, the government is indeed changing today and in the lives of people, adjusting itself as fit. But definitely so, a government that can represent better and adhere to the voice of the people would become even more efficient and effective towards the idealistic democracy as our Founding Fathers envisioned it. Representation among the many of us can be definitely achieved through many mediums and actions such as political participation through lobbying, endorsing and supporting political parties and their upholding views, participating in a jury, protesting out in the streets, do community service, or even taking up a seat in office in the government eventually. The more intimate the citizens are with the government and informed of its affairs and vice versa, the better the life for all of us.
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