“Pizzaonia Emerging 3” Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
An editorial opinion: Sister Veronica, Supreme Pizzaonian
A PIZZAONIAN PERSPECTIVE
Government and other stuff
I am often asked if we have no government in Pizzaonia how can we be sure we have a democracy. A good question if you are not familiar with our ways.
We have two legislative branches like you – a 492 seat Congress and a 50 seat Senate. There is one major difference, all of our Representatives and Senators are volunteers.
Many critics are quick to point out that this can lead to control by the powerful who are always too ready to protect their interest. We did think of that, so we created term limits. Our volunteers can only serve two weeks every five years. And, yes we always have more volunteers than positions to fill.
I am often asked why two weeks and no longer? Good question and the answer is we had the same problem here as you do in the United States. Our wealthy citizens and powerful corporate interest always attempt to buy our officials.
It was clear we could not stop this and still remain a democracy – free speech and stuff like that. If you have any question about this just ask your Supreme Court.
So we did the obvious. By changing our volunteer officials every two weeks and limiting their service to every five years, it just became too expensive for even our rich to buy them all.
One valid criticism of our system is the question how much can your government get done with so many turnovers? The answer is obvious – very little.
However, here is the good news – big government is always more efficient when it cannot get much done. From our vantage point in Pizzaonia it seems that you Americans are in the process of finding out the same thing.
On the economic recovering and other stuff
Here in Pizzaonia we are amazed at the resilience of the American economy. It has only been five years since your financial markets went into a complete collapse. (Call it what you will, but it was a financial disaster that rocked the world economy.)
Your recovery is next to miraculous, and now only five years later your markets have not only recovered; they have reached all-time highs.
Why then all the gloom and doom? We hear constantly about a “jobless” recovering. One could cite several reasons but there are two we would like to deal with here.
First: Your politics and politicians are no longer about good governing. Now it is about power and getting and staying elected, even if you have to toss aside what may be in the best interest of the country.
I know there are those of you who have convinced yourself that the “other guys” – those that don’t agree with you are evil and the devil incarnate. But let’s face it; we know that is poppycock and little else.
Patriots of good will, regardless of their differences will always find ways to compromise with dignity for the sake of the union. How else do you think you survived these past two hundred and forty plus years?
Second: Automation has changed the nature of your economy and your work force. The administration’s enemies love to use the term “jobless recovering.” It has a nice ring to it, and it stirs up the folks at home, particularly those without jobs.
Granted there are fewer jobs now than before, regardless of the economic recovering, and that situation will only grow worse. Automation has replaced thousands of middle class jobs, and it will continue to so into the future.
The only jobs not being replaced by automation are jobs at the very top, that is why the rich grow richer and richer every day, and the techies who drive the technology that creates the automation.
Until you are willing as a nation to face the inevitable consequences of dealing with an emerging culture where work will no longer be available for everyone, the job crises that we hear so much about will grow and become the cancer that destroys you.
Too strong? Just ask those qualified people who right now cannot find work - even though they try every day to do so.
Sister Veronica, Supreme Pizzaonian
Comments