Systems of Governance
Introduction

           Often the sacrificial lamb of argument is the truth. Whether a professional politician, an academic, or someone arguing their point around the Thanksgiving table; when the truth does not support the point offered, it is conveniently ignored.

          We are human and thus passionate. Passion can blind one so severely that even basic truths, meanings, and facts are obscured. Though we may admire passion, it is the better advocate who applies the facts at hand to the never ending search for truth.

          On February 26, 2015, James Inhofe, a Republican Senator from the state of Oklahoma, brought a snowball onto the senate floor. The snowball was his proof that climate change was a hoax.i The Washington Post made light of Inhofe’s actions that day in an article that underscored his arrogant ignorance. Inhofe’s foolish antic succeeded in convincing no one. Even those who agreed with him saw the folly in the Senator’s logic. One can argue intelligently that climate change is not occurring by stacking this fact upon that; however, they will loose because the preponderance of the evidence proves climate change is occurring at an alarming rate.

          In the present day politically charged atmosphere, it seems that every idea or political stance is a socialist communist plot, and of course, anti-American. In the United States, these phrases are shouted to stoke passion and thus, gain political advantage. They are purposely misused; or, even sadder, uttered in the belief that they accurately describe what they do not. In the pages that follow, it is my intention to provide accurate definitions and context to the most popular forms of governance. If I am successful, after these pages are consumed, or used as reference, you will not hold frozen water in your hands and claim that it is indicative of something that it is not. It is then that we can leave the fools to argue amongst themselves, and you and I will puzzle out the cures for our ailing world.

i “Jim Inhofe’s snowball has disproven climate change ocne and for all”, Pilip Bump, The Washington Post, February 26, 2015.