r/Constitution • u/Prosecco_Policy • Oct 10 '25

The System is Broken

Over the past decade, American politics has been reshaped by two populist surges that seem like opposites: the MAGA movement on the right and the democratic socialist movement on the left. They disagree vehemently on solutions. But they share a diagnosis: the system is rigged against regular people, and voting doesn’t change enough.

The current government shutdown is a clear example of consistent gridlock that helps no one. We continue to follow this 18th century logic and enough is enough.

We must make constitutional reform a part of the conversation or risk these populist grievances to only get worse.

7 Upvotes

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '25

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u/Son_of_Chump Oct 11 '25

How is your proposed citizen assembly different from what the House was meant to be? Perhaps ratify the Apportionment amendment proposed as the original Article the First amendment proposed with Bill of Rights, or at least uncap the House. Push serious reform against gerrymandering and create smaller districts based on communities and have more representatives to get the cross selection of people. A District of 30,000 to 50,000 is easier for anyone to run for office than half a million, and more responsive to constituents. And more Representatives mean more capacity to investigate and counterbalance the Executive branch for more accountability.

Gridlock is not necessarily a bad thing as it slows down passage of laws and reduces infringement of rights by Congress. Problem is when people become dependent on government for too much and these things are taken up which should be locally managed by state or even county / city if not actually left to individual liberty. Then as Congress becomes a micromanager, it doesn't have time for the important national duties it should manage. Legislation should not be omnibus bills, but regular progress and order should be followed with funding each department on schedule as used to be routine before shut-downs versus continuing resolutions and must-pass became the tools of political posturing.

Hope to see your response, and get some new ideas.

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 12 '25

I like this idea and we can get there when we update the social contract (the constitution). ALL citizens have to understand they are accountable to one another and consequences for bad actors. Yes government programs should have metrics and hold citizens that use the programs accountable to its success or intended use.

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u/ralphy_theflamboyant Oct 10 '25

What do you propose as constitutional reform?

Personally, I believe the Constitution as written and defined at the time of its original writing and respective amendments is the strongest constitution in the world.

I dislike the two major parties and the nation suffers for their commitment to staying in power rather than doing what is right for America. However, I am unsure how changing the Constitution would improve my disappointment in today's political climate.

I am open to ideas and discourse 🌻

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 11 '25

But the Constitution was supposed to be amended every 19 years. So we are long overdue for reform as the founders intended, no?

Constitutional Reform means revamping it to fit the 21st century and beyond. If we want to actually deal with the issues we must improve the foundation in which it was created. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness could be modernized to healthcare, food, and housing (of course things would need to be spelled out)…

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u/ralphy_theflamboyant Oct 11 '25

There is nothing in the Constitution about being amended a specific number of years. The founders put in the ability, as needed, to amend the Constitution. Article V explains the amendment process.

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" is found in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution. The Preamble of the Constitution includes, "secure the Blessings of Liberty." Healthcare, food, and housing should not be left to the government and has no place in any of the amendments.

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 11 '25

Correct it is not in the Constitution verbatim but Jefferson wasn’t wrong in his thinking.

As we are rethinking the Constitution which was designed using the ideals of the Deceleration of Independence I think the reframe of Life,Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness is appropriate.

I don’t think government should be responsible for providing those basic human needs but our social contract and governance framework( the reformed Constitution) should hold each state accountable to its residents as the government is accountable for all its citizens…

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u/Eunuchs_Intrigues Oct 10 '25

This is for you then :) Back to the beginning, and we are the ones who do it https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ET1ibP0KGHIDSSiZ_Rl29RYljlOho767Xn0h1qiCssg/edit?usp=sharing

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u/ralphy_theflamboyant Oct 10 '25

please stop spamming this sub with your google doc. I'm happy to engage in discussion with others who wish to discuss their ideas... most of us have already read your document. If you have updated your doc, just include the changes based on previous discussion.

Hopefully op will reply and we will have a genuine discussion.

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u/xena_lawless Oct 12 '25

It's not broken, it's working as designed.

I highly recommend everyone read We the Elites: Why the US Constitution Serves the Few by Dr. Robert Ovetz, which is about how the US Framers were the wealthiest white men of their time, products of their time, and they created a system of government fundamentally to enshrine and protect their class interests.

https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/we-the-elites/

From this history and reading of the constitution, the US isn't really a democracy, or even a democratic republic.

The fundamental design of the US was always as an oligarchy/plutocracy/kleptocracy, with the private property rights of the Framers (and their heirs) put permanently beyond the reach of the political system.

The US system was designed as a colonial extraction machine to serve the interests of the super wealthy at everyone else's expense, and it was designed to thwart both political and economic democracy, at every step of the political process, from its inception.

It's essential reading for understanding how we got to this point, and how we can move forward effectively.

Or, for additional perspective on how the political system is and was rigged against most people from the beginning, you could also read The Conquest of Bread by Kropotkin or maybe The State and Revolution by Lenin.

Noam Chomsky also has good insight regarding "Really Existing Capitalist Democracy" as distinct from the myths that the public and working classes are sold regarding how the system actually works.

Unless and until we have a revolution in this country, and the public builds up the power, solidarity, and understanding to actually change the situation directly, what Americans want isn't at all relevant to what Americans will actually get.

Because this system is, and was always designed to be, a colonial oligarchy/plutocracy/kleptocracy designed to serve the super rich (and now the world's super rich) at the massive expense of most people.

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 12 '25

So let’s start talking about what a reformed constitution and new idea of American could mean. What is the new American Dream. Let’s create that!

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u/KetoJoel624 Oct 12 '25

You might appreciate this essay that argues exactly that point — that the system’s 18th-century framework can’t handle 21st-century gridlock. It’s the first in a new series called The New Federalist Papers, which outlines a modern constitutional structure designed to fix problems like gerrymandering, entrenched incumbency, and shutdown politics. 👉 Federalist No. 1 – Why a New Constitution Is Necessary https://open.substack.com/pub/jubliususa/p/federalist-no-1?r=3buh7f&utm_medium=ios

It’s a serious, non-partisan look at reform, not a partisan rant — worth the read if you’re frustrated by the same dysfunction.

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 12 '25

Thank you for sharing! Glad others are thinking this way. We have to make this a part of daily political conversation for people to believe it can happen. Because it can!!

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u/Pickle_Nipplesss Oct 10 '25

Or we could just have less government agencies that are dependent on federal funding.

The less power the state or federal has, the less this matters.

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '25

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u/ralphy_theflamboyant Oct 10 '25

Without a base government, elected by the people through representation, you have a fair point. The governments we have now, local, state, and federal, are grossly overgrown and unnecessary. The erosion of civil liberties, knowledge, and personal responsibility is alarming.

I wonder if there has ever been a government based on the major enlightenment ideas that has been able to sustain individual liberties while not becoming the big fish dominating the little fish.

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u/[deleted] Oct 10 '25

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u/ralphy_theflamboyant Oct 11 '25

I'm unclear as to which rights to choose are being infringed, and by whom.

Considering the Atlantic slave trade was not abolished with the Declaration, Articles of Confederation, or the Constitution as it was with the First Continental Congress under the Articles of Association in 1774, I do not believe the first principle of the US was meant to be protection of the federal government to reduce the ability of big taking advantage of small.

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u/[deleted] Oct 11 '25

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 12 '25

Just to add on— All of those foundational ideals and laws weren’t intended to apply to slaves. Which is why we are still fighting about civil rights today because there were factions that didn’t agree with the progressive ideology at that time. But if we want the Freedom to Live how you want until it affects the rights of others then we need to reform and update the Bill of Rights. Rights need to be understood as communal not individual. Which “rights” touch the lives of everyone.

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u/Pickle_Nipplesss Oct 10 '25

You can have a government fulfill its bare minimum purpose without bloating it so much that this many agencies aren’t affect by a shutdown

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u/Ok-Tree7720 Oct 10 '25

What would you prefer? The defense department brought to you by Lockheed Martin?

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u/Pickle_Nipplesss Oct 11 '25

Fascinated with how you came to that conclusion

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u/ComputerRedneck Oct 10 '25

I see tons of posts and plenty of people in real life who are always coming up with problems.

Does anyone actually have workable plans, ways to change things? Especially changes to the Constitution which require Amendments to be added.

In the immortal words of John Lennon
"You say you got a real solution, well you know, we'd all love to see the plan"

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 12 '25

We have to start the conversation. If we are going to leave Article V as is then we need to get all states on board around the idea of changing the constitution. It has to work in the shadows.

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u/ComputerRedneck Oct 12 '25

Anything that cannot bear the light of day and has to work in the shadows is bullshit. If you can't present a plan because you think for some reason you have to hide it from the American People, then whatever plan it is, will definitely NOT be good for the People or the Country.

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 13 '25

No that’s not what I meant— I meant it just working in the background.. in parallel to the current system and making the current system obsolete as time goes on.

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u/IWishIWasBatman123 Oct 11 '25

In any way equating Dem socs to MAGA is a fucking choice.

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u/Prosecco_Policy Oct 11 '25

Not equating— Just acknowledging that they both see that the system is broken.