First of all, we are creating the institute because in the United States and much of the western world, our Congress, state legislatures and other national parliaments have all too often ceased to be representative of the people as they have been taken over by the power and money of elite special interests and their sophisticated lobbying groups. Now, we understand that history shows that all governments tend to represent elites and special interests and this isn't always contrary to the best interests of the middle class and the vast majority of citizens. Still, the growth and power of Washington lobbyists has never been so complete or totally in control of the political process as today in the early years of this new 21st Century. We believe the Swiss model of direct democracy with the right of the voters through referendum and initiative to maintain ultimate and final control over the political process is a way to decrease special interest control over our institutions of representative government and increase the ultimate power of the citizens as was the original intent of the Founding Fathers of the Republic.
This is a new institution and all work by the founders is being done free of charge in order to advance the stated mission and goals of the Swiss Confederation Institute. All contributions will go to plans and programs not salaries. We are of course, starting small but listed below is our general plan for the institute which will be updated from time-to-time depending on circumstances, growth, success and failure.
(1) The Website - We will start with a website and our first goal is to get this up and running. This has been accomplished.
(2) A Call For Articles & Content - Please forward us your editorials, articles and papers for review and possible linking on our website. A website needs content, editorials and articles promoting the benefits of decentralized limited confederation government verses an all powerful central government like today has developed in the United States and other nations. This is not a liberal or conservative paradigm or educational activity on the evils or benefits of government. We believe a limited amount of government is necessary in our world today at all levels but it should be controlled by the citizens and other institutions as formerly existed and worked for a period of time here in the United States. Also government entities, programs, representatives and services are more efficient and subject to the people at the local and state level, hence our preference for decentralized confederation style government. We agree that citizens should have the kind of government they desire and the needs and preferences for people in Montana, New Hampshire and Mississippi probably differ greatly from those in the Washington Beltway, San Francisco or Massachusetts.
(3) Create Readership For the Website - Website content is meaningless without readership therefore we will seek to obtain links with other organizations and websites that share some of our views, goals and concerns. We will have no litmus test for other sites and organizations that we exchange links with except that we have some common agreement on some issues.
(4) The Bookstore - Our first program is an online Swiss Confederation Institute Bookstore that sells books outlining some of the history of the American Republic of our Founding Fathers, the Articles of Confederation and the Confederate States of America, the Swiss experience in direct democracy and limited confederation government including books on how to control and return America and other nations back to republics with limited government. This has been completed and is online but we are looking for suggestions for additional books to add to the bookstore.
(5) Stay On Mission & Message - There are many excellent think-tanks, foundations and institutes in the United States and around the world and we have some of the best listed on our links page and for this reason we will not attempt to reinvent the wheel or get involved in their activities or spheres of influence of other foundations with many multiples of our likely future funding or influence. We seek to educate the public about the many benefits of controlling government programs and power at home as well as foreign policy through direct democracy and a return to decentralized limited confederation government at the federal level. We will not engage in the political process as this is best handled by other political and advocacy groups.
(6) Publish a Book on Restoring the American Legacy of Confederation Government - This is in process right now and we hope it will in
some small way compliment the excellent book on Direct Democracy in Switzerland by Gregory A. Fossedal. The Swiss model of confederation and direct democracy definitely works for them and America and other nations can learn much from their example and model when combined with existing unique national and regional political institutions. Our goal is not to duplicate the Swiss system but rather to take the best aspects of their government and political structures and incorporate what might work for a political unit and attract the necessary political support in other nations and jurisdictions. Our ultimate goal is less central government power, authority and programs and more private efforts, free-markets combined with better citizen control and impact over the political process, a reduction in special interest control and better, lower cost and more efficient localized government programs and services tailored to the needs and desires of local and state government units.
(7) Hold Educational Conferences & Seminars - For this to happen the Swiss Confederation Institute has to gain publicity, financial support, volunteers and notice in the US and around the world. This will take time and effort.
(8) Build A Base of Writers, Advisors, Thinkers, Contributors and Volunteers - Let's face facts. This is a brand new effort and attempt to return the US and other nations back down the road of more freedom and liberty and less government tyranny at home and abroad. Most established political institutions, politicians and political party hacks will not support this effort as today regardless of their best intentions, most of these interests with a few exceptions like Congressman Ron Paul etc. are by the necessity of election or re-election controlled by special interests instead of their constituencies they probably would prefer to represent. Will a return to limited confederation government and expanded direct democracy solve all political problems and concerns? Of course not but there is no question that for 50 years we have tired to limit and control the growth and power of government at all levels through only the voting process with our representative democracy and over time the special interests have totally grabbed control over our government and those individuals and institutions that should represent us. It is time for a change and we seek to educate the public about the government of our Founding Fathers, what we lost during the last two hundred years and how to get back to the principles and form of government this nations was founded upon both at home and abroad. The United States today should again become a shining example of limited and representative government around the world and for this to happen the American people must retake control over our political process and elected representatives. We believe representative democracy and the republic form of government can again work best in the US and in other countries if it is ultimately controlled by direct democracy and limited decentralized confederation government.
What Can You Do To Help?
(1) Link Your Website to the Swiss Confederation Institute Site - Send us an e-mail when you have established a link and we will review your site and link back to you generating more traffic to your website.
(2) Promote the Institute by Your E-mails - Send out an e-mail promoting the institute and links on us to interested friends and associates.
(3) Write Articles and Website Content For the Institute - We need your expertise and written articles to help promote the philosophy and goals of the institute.
(4) Purchase Books From the Institute Bookstore - This will help with our funding and improve your knowledge of history, confederation government and Switzerland.
(5) Make Financial Contributions To The Swiss Confederation Institute - To my knowledge, we are the only non-commercial website and organization established for the sole purpose of educating the public about the model of Swiss confederation government and direct democracy and how their success story can serve as a model for liberty loving people and a return to limited government around the world.
More coming!
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