Autonomy. To Douglas Heath in Schools of Hope it is one of the five effects of successful adaptation (the other four are symbolization, other-centeredness, integration and stabilization). It is independence and self reliance within selectively formed interdependent relationships.
An individual with autonomy is capable of accepting or rejecting others' views of self and can control self growth. Ultimately the autonomous being achieves increased mastery, competency, and a sense of power.
In a way, ironically, autonomy frees the individual to experience greater interdependency, by entering into it from a center of power and stability. Individual autonomy is an indicator of a healthy civilization.
The American identity has always been closely interwoven with autonomy - the self reliance of the colonists, their refusal to accept the status quo, and the courage to fight for these freedoms.
But the government of the people, by the people, and for the people has hit a rough patch in the road. Because somewhere along the line the people became them. This unique form of government sought and fought for by the American people became an entity unto itself. Somewhere along the line the American government became an authority instead of a process, became a parent instead of a peer, became a creator of policy instead of a conveyor of the peoples' needs.
And what we have created has now grown so large that we can not change it. And it will not change itself.
But what is the American government if not a reflection of the American people?
Heath includes within his definition of autonomy the ability to be independent and self reliant and to be able to tolerate aloneness if necessary. And to be motivated by considered principle rather than impulsive wish or environmental pressure.
The meta-values he assigns to autonomy are courage and freedom.
The American government has grown to become the overburdened cumbersome entity it is today not by design but by neglect. It has become what it is because Americans have gradually allowed their autonomy to slip away. We have deferred our independent decision making and reliance on self to our local governments which then deferred them to the state governments which deferred to the United States government. We have allowed ourselves to be swayed by environmental pressures, deferring critical decisions pertaining to our way of life up the chain as well.
What is to be done?
One axiom says the more complex the problem the simpler the solution.
And so it is now.
Simply, individual Americans must recapture their autonomy, that trait of character for which we have become known around the world. We know what must be done, so we need to set about doing it. And we need to do this on an individual and a local level. Many Americans are already doing it.
We need a clean source of energy? We will put up solar panels on our homes or build windmills or form a cooperative to create a local source. And we'll sell the extra back to the grid.
We need water? We will protect what we have and find ways to gather or create more, whether evaporative systems or salt removal systems. We will invent and adapt.
We need fuel efficient and clean transport? We will buy hybrid or electric vehicles, or bicycle and walk more, and car pool. And we will invent and adapt.
We need healthy organic chemical free food? We will buy locally, we will grow our own gardens, we will form a cooperative to exchange food.
We need jobs? We need to improve our local economy? We will create local job markets and job fairs. We will support local banks and local businesses.
In short, we need to localize our efforts, from education to economic growth to disaster preparation. Local communities know their own needs best. We can free the state and national government of the burden of our local needs to allow those governments to run more efficiently and effectively. And maybe more fiscally responsibly.
No political agenda is necessary, no ulterior motives are involved. It is a matter of doing rather than deferring, of taking care of our own back yard, and when our efforts are rewarded with success, the message will be clear.
But can we do this?
Of course. We are, after all, Americans.
