Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

An unblinking look at modern democracy and its associated systems of government administration.

Episodes

October 19, 2024 12 mins

If we have healthcare insurance, we can agree to whatever treatment our doctor recommends. We don’t care if the cost is unreasonable. The forces of supply and demand do not apply to medical services and products.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

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We need laws and we must follow them. If a despot should gain control of our government, they get to rewrite the laws. It is never pretty. At that point, democracy ends. No citizen militia can overthrow a dictator in control of the nation’s armed forces. The only medicines for despotism are preventative ones.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Natio...

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“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” ~ Aristotle

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
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While we work, we think of the sacrifices and struggles of our forebears, how they helped us and how we wish to help our children in similar ways.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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The “nanny state” is a symptom of a broken government system. Like in a dictatorship, other people decide what is best for us, whether we agree with them or not.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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A big issue related to the secondment of fresh people into bureaus, the staffing of deliberation teams, and getting non-politicians into legislative roles, is how these programs will be staffed.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.co...

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If we acknowledge that we, the citizens of our nation, are responsible for governing ourselves and that, as a citizen-body, we are the government, it is in our best interests to contribute, individually, to its wellbeing.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Bri...

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Privatizing the government bureaus is NOT the solution for busting up bureaucracy. The solution is in staffing systems where fresh ideas come from fresh people within the bureaus themselves.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/de...

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September 16, 2024 12 mins

Properly structured government bureaus are critical to a vibrant society. A bureau’s stodgy bureaucratic culture can be turned into a healthy efficiency-focused one.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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Our government churns through tons of money each year.  It seems we only receive a tiny sliver of the benefits.  An analysis of where the rest goes and what needs to change.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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Sometimes, it seems, that the laws that are passed are not what we were expecting. The process needs more input from everyday citizens.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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All citizens should have a means to actively contribute to the development of law and policy. There are tested and proven ways.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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It would be ideal if we all contributed equally to the wellbeing of our nation, including sharing equally in the cost of our agreed-upon government programs. It’s not possible.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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Money represents the market price we receive for our time and ideas. Some of us make lots of money for the time we sell; others make less.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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The theory is that our economy will grow sufficiently such that, as our kids become wage-earning adults, it’s okay to saddle them with the debt from our current indulgences.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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A nation’s criteria for immigration must be an individual’s merit; not their level of duress in their parent country.

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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April 30, 2024 11 mins

Even though the forces for separation can be strong, splitting a nation into pieces solves nothing. 

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
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April 18, 2024 14 mins

“No society, no matter how tolerant, can expect to thrive if its citizens don’t prize what their citizenship means.” ~ Salman Rushdie

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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April 4, 2024 12 mins

In times of great stress, such as the Second World War, our sense of nation seems almost natural; nationhood is implicit and few question it. 

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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Candidates know that extreme behavior differentiates them in the candidate pool and increases their probability of benefiting from a vote split among the other candidates. 

Based on the book "Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy" available on Amazon.
Amazon: Reclaiming Our Nation - Fixing Democracy

If this episode gets you thinking, buy me a coffee:
Brian Aftanas (buymeacoffee.com/democracy)

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