NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY IN THE

            GLOBAL VILLAGE

"National sovereignty" is a legal expression of the right to self-government by a state or nation. It entails the declaration by a political system to operate independently of foreign rule or control.

Originally the providence of an absolute monarch, a singular political ruler or a small cadre of elites, National Sovereignty became, as codified in the Constitutions of the French Revolution, a reflection of the national will, promoted by whatever group happened to be in power, and was perceived as the divine right of that particular nation to control its socio-political destiny unencumbered by external forces or concerns.

The American Revolution, and its resultant Constitution, defined this theory further with the concept of "Popular Sovereignty," wherein the basis of "Sovereign Doctrine" was voted upon in a more egalitarian manner, either directly by the people or their elected representatives, rather than dictated from upon high.

Regardless, they both represent a vision of political reality which, in effect, grants every nation the right to chart its own particular course and policy, the primacy of which is to the benefit of that individual nation. Hence, the World we all live in today.

Obviously this is tempered somewhat through international laws and treaties, restricting the most egregious unilateral activities. The salient fact remains, however, that this is the prism through which foreign relations are viewed. The right to do as we please as an individual nation is sacrosanct. It is seen as unpatriotic to give credence to foreign considerations, especially those which portend a possible adverse effect to one's particular nation; the positive benefits to the Global Community notwithstanding.

Like it or not, today we all live in a Global Village wherein the actions of our national entities have ramifications far beyond our individual national borders. What we do here today, affects you there tomorrow.

Every nation has the right, and the duty, to govern its population, unfettered by external influences, as long as it is done in an openly democratic fashion and adheres to a just, equitable and comprehensive Bill of Rights. This should be, and has to be, the limited purview of the precept of "National Sovereignty."

In light of the interconnected nature of our ever shrinking world, a new sovereignty is needed, a "Global Sovereignty."

A new philosophy which promotes the notion that since all of us, universally, share this one, singular planet, our communal welfare supersedes any perceived right of any nation to unilaterally, and adversely, negatively impact its neighbors; either near, or far.

Our future actions must reflect an appreciation of our globally interdependent economies, environments and, ultimately, all aspects of our communal existence. To continue on as we are, ceding to any nation the right to behave as it chooses, regardless of global consequences, will only continue to exacerbate our shared problems and prevent us from resolving those problems in a manner which accommodates us all.

A NEW WORLD ORDER FOR WORLD PEACE

The phrase “New World Order” conjures up the Orwellian image of a brave new world. For most of us, the term is associated with some sort of shadowy conspiracy of the wealthy and powerful to control the world for their own nefarious purposes.

While this, in effect, may actually be going on to some degree or other, it neither precludes the fact that the old order is indeed broken, nor does it prevent us from establishing a new world order ourselves, one which benefits the many of us rather than just the chosen few.

The old order, the haphazard and arbitrary conglomeration of our present configuration of Nation-States, has proven itself both morally and systematically incapable of dealing with the pressing problems which affect us all, both globally and locally.

Morally, because it seems our leaders, both secular and nonsecular, have fallen prey to the siren songs of greed, avarice, and the insatiable lust for power. They see our planet, its peoples and resources, as a bottomless well there to quench the thirst of their desires, regardless of ramifications, repercussions or remorse.

Systematically, with absolutely no rhyme, reason or rationality as to how we deal with each other as the singular species that we are, Humanity, we blunder along from one global crisis to the next. With no practical method for the powerless and disenfranchised among us to adequately and peacefully address their concerns, violence, terror, and armed insurgency abound. With the greedy and well-connected pulling on the strings of power for their own personal gain and profit the world economy totters on the brink of collapse.

We can, and must, do better. We cannot accept the way things are, because that's the way things have always been. For us to move forward, we will have to cast aside our antiquated notions of tribal supremacy and the inviolable notion of ultimate and unassailable national sovereignty.

This is one world, and we are one species. These are inarguable facts. A new world order in the guise of and equitable, just and rational unified world government is ultimately our only hope of achieving world peace.

OCCUPY WALL STREET, WHAT'S NEXT?

The continued success and increasing support of Occupy Wall Street begs the question, “to what end?”

“We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore,” echoes from the canyons of lower Manhattan, and resonates with raised voices throughout the World.

We are mad: mad at the continuing injustice and inequality we see around us; mad at our elected leader's inability to address and rectify the problems which confront us, both locally and globally; mad at the invasive greed and avarice which has impoverished our economies and our futures.

The problems we face, both here and abroad, are endemic. Financial upheaval, environmental degradation, poverty, famine and disease abound. Reports of war, repression and genocide are the daily fare doled out by the news media.

Global warming and climate change portend a calamitous future, regardless of cause. In many regions the scarcity of food, fuel and clean water decimate the local population and perpetuates a cycle of despair which ultimately imperils us all.

Unfortunately, our governmental entities, be they elected, selected, or self-appointed, are fundamentally and systemically unable, or worse unwilling, to effectively deal with these issues. Systematically, we are all held hostage by the haphazard results of our political evolution as a species. With no rhyme, reason or rationality our governments, regardless of their ideology, labor under a system which cannot, or will not, address these concerns. Fundamentally, politicians as a class have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. The greed heads and power trippers, that 1% of us who control the world for their own benefit and enrichment, are satisfied with the system as it now stands. Politicians are bought and sold like common commodities either through the guise of legitimate campaign contributions, or outright bribery and extortion, their influence purchased to serve the will of the few rather than the good of the many.

The system is broken. For us to move forward as a species a new system must be devised. A New World Order, to use a hackneyed phrase, which promotes liberty, freedom, and justice for all of us, not just the chosen few; a world where the concept of inalienable human rights is cherished rather than repressed; a world of hope and promise rather than one of fear and dread.

The time has come for a Unified, Representative, Democratic World Government; a government of stringent checks and balances, a government where integrity and honesty are held in esteem rather than power, wealth and influence.

Our globe grows smaller every day. The impact of our actions reach ever further. The concept of National Sovereignty must accommodate itself to a new regime, a Global Sovereignty.

We, Humanity, are a single species. We share a single world. We can, and must, learn to live and work together or we are destined to fail. We face fundamental questions regarding our future, questions that will impact the lives of each of us, of the 6.5 billion or so of us who collectively call this planet home.