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Jenkins takes the meaning of "we the people" to the ultimate level by proposing a shift in how society and government operate, leading to collaboration and mitigating greed and bias within the judicial system. The end goal, as he reiterates throughout the work, is the implementation of a better democracy, one that is not susceptible to political gamesmanship and the power of the almighty dollar. At the core of Jenkins' work is a fervent desire to truly execute on the phrase, "represent their constituents," and spark an evolution of the United States government that does what it set out to do back in 1776: serve the people.
Perhaps there has never been a more pivotal moment in US history than the one it faces now. In many ways, the country is at an inflection point, its decisions influenced by partisan interests that hinder the government from making meaningful progress. For instance, Jenkins compares the nation's mounting thirty-five trillion dollar debt as a robbery in "broad daylight," in which the perpetrators are the politicians that we ourselves have elected. With both sincerity and force, he articulates the immediate need for this to change.
With each section broken down into concise and compelling commentary, readers are constantly provided with guidance and clarity while also being encouraged to think for themselves. Jenkins does a commendable job of giving the evidence, and in most cases, it is irrefutable. Whether it's how the pandemic became a partisan rally cry filled with mixed responses or something as egregious as headlines like "19,000 Dead People Registered to Vote," Jenkins' astute observations are undeniable. What makes this work stand out the most is that he goes a step beyond identifying the problems by providing the same zeal and attentiveness in creating systematic solutions.
Conjure the vision of a direct democracy that is spearheaded by a random, intelligent selection process that eradicates the arcane and agenda-driven election system. In this manner, there is no pathway for greed and power to be negatively incentivized. In fact, the author is incredibly meticulous with his system, beginning with a pool of 7.5 million potential candidates from which 7,500 would be randomly selected for further consideration. Digging deeper, Jenkins uses historical examples, such as referencing Marx and "The Communist Manifesto," to caution that democracy will die a gruesome death in the United States if it continues to maintain its pretenses. From the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" and the Magna Carta to the hallowed Constitution itself, Jenkins incorporates texts in his work that impel audiences to truly reflect on the merits of his arguments.
One of the greatest hurdles that must be conquered, the author argues, is the mass hysteria that is further exacerbated by the media and propaganda, leading citizens into murky waters and defining their decision-making through fear. Harkening back to the Salem witch trials, Jenkins shows how far the collective can go when they are driven by fear and self-preservation, creating an inherently self-centered community that will stop at nothing. The truth becomes a shell of itself, transforming into an agenda-driven objective. Jenkins vehemently signals that the status quo will only lead to the worst-case scenario of democracy crumbling, followed by mayhem and an abject disregard for human worth. Above all else, Jenkins' work is an intensely thought-provoking lifeline for political players to navigate pertinent social issues in the increasingly complex world of US democracy, a scintillating commentary that is a meaningful and educational read for all audiences, especially those in academia and the higher echelons of government.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review