The Power of Roots

radical (adj.)
  500 BC ― Latin "radix" [root, origin]
1802 ― politics [change from roots]
1970 ― surfing [limits of control]
1980 ― slang "rad" [awesome]
2017 ― political ideas that work

The power of roots

Even children quickly learn that the power in every tree flows up from its roots ... that part of the tree that is unseen ... which begins at the ground level then reaches down ... deep into the earth for the water and nutrients the branches and leaves above the ground need to survive and thrive. So why should we be surprised if nations need roots too?

There is an amazing thing about roots ... they do not all grow in the same direction. In fact, they are designed to spread out and go in many different directions ... but always with one common purpose ... to find and retrieve what is needed to nourish, strengthen and preserve the tree. And as the roots spread, they anchor and enable the spreading branches above. As such it is the roots under the ground which determine the limits for the branches in the sky.

But roots must be fed if they are to grow and that is the purpose for which the branches and leaves exist. The roots send water and nutrients up to the branches and leaves which, in the bright light of day, convert them into sugars that are returned to nourish and strengthen the roots. The roots and branches depend on and sustain one another in an unbroken loop of life.

Unfortunately, once the loop connecting a tree's [or nation's] roots and branches is interrupted, the tree begins to die. As the branches cease to nourish the roots, the roots cease to nourish the branches and a self-reinforcing cycle of decay begins. The reasons for the interruption may be hard to determine, but before long an accumulation of dead branches announces an indisputable verdict: the tree [roots and branches] is dying ... even if it manages to remain standing until the next big storm takes it down.

America's roots have been severed from its branches

The hidden roots of America are its people and the visible branches are its community, city, state and federal governments. But the people have become separated from their governments and even though the reasons for this are poorly understood, the results are predictably obvious.

• Dysfunctional branches of government cease to impartially and robustly serve the COMMON need of ALL the people for liberty and justice.
• As a result ... some people form partisan groups to promote their OWN security and prosperity by using the power of government to exploit their fellow citizens ... while other people withdraw [or are excluded] from participation in the governments on which they depend [and which reciprocally depend on them] for healthy civic life.
• A fatal cycle of political failure, division and decay becomes reinforcing.

We intuitively know that our country needs its political roots and branches to be connected and functioning together in mutual support. But we struggle to understand how the roots and branches of government are connected and designed to function ... and much of what we do understand is incomplete or incorrect.

So what connects America's populist roots to its governmental branches and how are the two designed to serve one another? To answer this important question we must understand two distinct but complementary concepts from America's history ... the Republic And the Democracy.

Republic ... a repository of the common wealth

Latin "res" [things] + "publica" [public]

The Republic that would one day be called America began to form long before 1776. Like all living organism, its start was small and unnoticed by most. But slowly ... family by family ... farm by farm ... community by community ... town by town ... and state by state ... enduring principles and common interests were connecting many into one ... e pluribus unum ... as a multitude of named and unnamed autonomous units began crisscrossing the landscape and forming the root structure for the as-yet-unnamed Republic which was taking shape and growing stronger ... awaiting its birthday.

In 1776 a Republic was born for the whole world to see and named itself "The United States of America". Although previously unknown and still untested, this American Republic

• declared its independence,
• accepted its responsibility for self-rule and
• assumed its separate and equal station among the powers of the earth.

Democracy ... an expression of the common will

Greek "demos" [common people] + "kratos" [power]

It would take the American Republic over ten years to win a war for its independence, to debate the rules by which it could govern itself and then to identify and convene representatives of the people in the various states to draft the Constitution that would initiate Democracy in America as the chosen form of national government ... a government of the people, by the people and for the people ... to form a more perfect union ... with liberty and justice for all ... in hopes that security and prosperity would follow naturally in due time.

History ... a lesson in the common knowledge

Greek "historia" [learning or knowing by inquiry and experience]

The rest is the history of an American Republic governed by an American Democracy ... families, farms, communities, towns and states continually reforming, reconnecting and working together as one nation across generations to

• affirm and transmit the enduring principles and common interests of a Republic,
• teach and learn how common people govern themselves as a Democracy
• in furtherance of the liberty and justice they desire to share with one another
• in hopes of experiencing security and prosperity.

The chronicle of this effort has been filled with challenges [economic and political], measured by results [successes and failures] and scarred by wars [foreign and civil]. But through it all, America's democratic branches of government have persisted and thrived by clinging to the republican roots of America's people ... sustaining both the Republic And Democracy [RAD] which constituted America and without which it will cease to be America.

What is RAD ?

RAD stands for Republic And Democracy because it took both for America to begin ... and it will take both to preserve America and, eventually with perseverance, to restore the greatness America has tragically lost.

RAD is a logical [and thus confident] conviction that there are still

• enduring principles of and common interests in liberty and justice for all which
• a specific form of government is uniquely suited to articulate, apply and serve.

RAD understands the roles and rules of both the individual and the collective ... of both control and the limits of control ... of the many smaller republics and democracies that once did and once again must coalesce to maintain the republic and democracy which must characterize America as a nation.

What isn't RAD ?

RAD is not

• an attempt to govern by compromising principles and interests that are inconsistent or
• a mixture of Republican and Democratic party positions which divide the roots of America.

Both the Republican and Democratic parties have been corrupted by special interests which manipulate power-hungry political pragmatists on "both sides of the aisle" with no commitment to the Republic And Democracy which are the soul and body of American politics.

Is RAD for me?

RAD is not primarily a political choice ... it is a way of life. You are the only one who can decide whether RAD is the way you wish to journey in your politics and your life. And to do that, you must first acquire information about RAD and then perform verification in dialogue with your fellow citizens.

If you will make that effort, we think you will, at least, learn valuable lessons for the future in your role as a citizen ... and, at best, become one of the many and diverse roots it will take working together to restore life and health to The United States of America.

To stay abreast of news as we attempt to get organized, just "Follow by Email" below and you will receive notices as we chronicle our progress in new posts.

We at RAD both welcome and need your interest. You should contact us at republicanddemocracy@gmail.com