JC's point that "our direct relationship, as the People, with "the State" is not concrete" is well taken. Likewise, our economic system, in reality, does not conform perfectly to the textbook definition of capitalism. There are forces of BASTARDization everywhere. The same case can be made that our supposedly democratic system of politics falls short of our ideals.


Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis said:
"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both."


So we don't have to look too far for proof of concept here. Now consider these reasons, given by the Founders in the Declaration of Independence, as the basis for their decision to break completely from the Crown.


He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

Surely any reasonable person could see recent Bush/Administration actions in at least some, if not all of these charges. The Declaration of Independence also said:


whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

So I'd like to see the conversation steer away from impossibly perfect definitions like capitalism and democracy. Instead, let's prove we've learned from mistakes. Let's approach it from the angle, "what would be better?" The answer exists, but cannot have a name.