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Africa is rich but Africans are poor because the system of governance in most African countries is corrupt and broken. Of the top 20 poorest countries on Earth, 17 are 'independent' African countries. With the broken system in place, African nations don't need to elect new leaders, we need a new system designed by the people-ordinary citizens-, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, social class, literacy or stupidity. Ordinary citizens are the source of independence and prosperity! To have an independent and prosperous country, we must first aim to get independent and prosperous citizens and their families! So let's get started with Citizens Independence Initiatives-the Citizens' Platform for prosperity that provides civic education and economic opportunities for ordinary citizens.

From Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, the Universal Human Rights International (UHRI), YOUNG-Africa Inc and Magic 99.3 FM present civic education and economic upward mobility for Liberia. Nearly all 'independent' African nations are dependent on foreign aid. Even with more foreign aid, corruption is endemic, unemployment is widespread, economic growth is stalled and with the scarcity of equal opportunities, hopeless abounds forcing Liberians to live and die in poverty.

We believe the solution to Liberia's woes will never come from the United Nations, United States, African Union or European Union! The solution is not more foreign aid or new political parties or new government officials within the same old corrupt system. The system is the problem!

We need a new system designed by the people-ordinary citizens themselves. The first step in the people designing a new system is to put honest public servants into public service. How do we accomplish that? we, as Like-minded citizens came together in a small group-one by one- around commonsense ideas on which everyone agrees. For example, everyone agrees that 'all power is inherent in the people'. It's written in every constitution! In other words, the people are the boss! They hire and fire every state employee, from the president to all lawmakers! Even the politicians agree the people are the boss. That is why politicians beg ordinary people for their votes.

We asked ourselves that question. Why are we always waiting for politicians to present their platforms for us to vote for their ideas? How about we, the citizens in this small group coming up with three simple ideas that we agree on as the Citizens' Platform? Before voting for anyone's 'Platform', how about we the citizens first signing up and voting for our own Citizens' Platform for Prosperity? The Citizens' Platform ensures justice, security, equal opportunities and prosperity for all citizens.

We shared our ideas with other citizens from other communities, Christians, Muslims, students, business people, civil society. They all agree that we must focus on prosperity for citizens and we must vote for Citizens Platform before voting for people who believe in our platform.

The first pillar of Citizens' Platform is the recognition that public service is designed for honest public servants and should never be the avenue to enrich career politicians.

The second pillar is the citizen is the Boss. The Boss must set the salaries and benefits of all public servants, commensurate to the medium salaries of the constituents and adjusted periodically for inflation.

The third pillar is about justice and fairness. The citizens or the Boss, must reserve the right to directly propose laws through ballot questions that are consistent with the universal declaration of human rights. If we need to petition anyone, we must petition our fellow citizens. This system is called "Citizens Initiatives" and exists and thrives in the European Union, Switzerland and the United States.

Citizens Platform is commonsense! Set up a business and allow employees to set their own salaries and you will have chaos, infighting and no business! No wonder African countries are always in trouble.

Not everyone will agree on this strategy of putting citizens and their platform first. That is okay. We don't need everyone. We need only those who agree to come together, sign up and support the spreading of these three commonsense ideas.

Citizens coming together-one by one- around these three ideas equals participatory democracy-government of the people, by the people and for the people! We have our work cut out for us! Let's go to work! Join the movement! Spread the word! We need your names, phone numbers and addresses!

The alternative is putting politicians in charge to suck up the wealth and ship it overseas, thus bringing wars, refugee crisis, abject poverty and public service as the primary avenue for the political elites to enrich themselves forever!

Join the movement and share the ideas. This is not mass street demonstration or the Arab Spring or a political party. It's an indigenous African citizens independence movement that is rising from the birthplace of Africa's 1st republic-the 169 years old Republic of Liberia.
Africa is rich but Africans are poor because the system of governance in most African countries is corrupt and broken. Of the top 20 poorest countries on Earth, 17 are 'independent' African countries. With the broken system in place, African nations don't need to elect new leaders, we need a new system designed by the people-ordinary citizens-, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, social class, literacy or stupidity. Ordinary citizens are the source of independence and prosperity! To have an independent and prosperous country, we must first aim to get independent and prosperous citizens and their families! So let's get started with Citizens Independence Initiatives-the Citizens' Platform for prosperity that provides civic education and economic opportunities for ordinary citizens. From Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, the Universal Human Rights International (UHRI), YOUNG-Africa Inc and Magic 99.3 FM present civic education and economic upward mobility for Liberia. Nearly all 'independent' African nations are dependent on foreign aid. Even with more foreign aid, corruption is endemic, unemployment is widespread, economic growth is stalled and with the scarcity of equal opportunities, hopeless abounds forcing Liberians to live and die in poverty. We believe the solution to Liberia's woes will never come from the United Nations, United States, African Union or European Union! The solution is not more foreign aid or new political parties or new government officials within the same old corrupt system. The system is the problem! We need a new system designed by the people-ordinary citizens themselves. The first step in the people designing a new system is to put honest public servants into public service. How do we accomplish that? we, as Like-minded citizens came together in a small group-one by one- around commonsense ideas on which everyone agrees. For example, everyone agrees that 'all power is inherent in the people'. It's written in every constitution! In other words, the people are the boss! They hire and fire every state employee, from the president to all lawmakers! Even the politicians agree the people are the boss. That is why politicians beg ordinary people for their votes. We asked ourselves that question. Why are we always waiting for politicians to present their platforms for us to vote for their ideas? How about we, the citizens in this small group coming up with three simple ideas that we agree on as the Citizens' Platform? Before voting for anyone's 'Platform', how about we the citizens first signing up and voting for our own Citizens' Platform for Prosperity? The Citizens' Platform ensures justice, security, equal opportunities and prosperity for all citizens. We shared our ideas with other citizens from other communities, Christians, Muslims, students, business people, civil society. They all agree that we must focus on prosperity for citizens and we must vote for Citizens Platform before voting for people who believe in our platform. The first pillar of Citizens' Platform is the recognition that public service is designed for honest public servants and should never be the avenue to enrich career politicians. The second pillar is the citizen is the Boss. The Boss must set the salaries and benefits of all public servants, commensurate to the medium salaries of the constituents and adjusted periodically for inflation. The third pillar is about justice and fairness. The citizens or the Boss, must reserve the right to directly propose laws through ballot questions that are consistent with the universal declaration of human rights. If we need to petition anyone, we must petition our fellow citizens. This system is called "Citizens Initiatives" and exists and thrives in the European Union, Switzerland and the United States. Citizens Platform is commonsense! Set up a business and allow employees to set their own salaries and you will have chaos, infighting and no business! No wonder African countries are always in trouble. Not everyone will agree on this strategy of putting citizens and their platform first. That is okay. We don't need everyone. We need only those who agree to come together, sign up and support the spreading of these three commonsense ideas. Citizens coming together-one by one- around these three ideas equals participatory democracy-government of the people, by the people and for the people! We have our work cut out for us! Let's go to work! Join the movement! Spread the word! We need your names, phone numbers and addresses! The alternative is putting politicians in charge to suck up the wealth and ship it overseas, thus bringing wars, refugee crisis, abject poverty and public service as the primary avenue for the political elites to enrich themselves forever! Join the movement and share the ideas. This is not mass street demonstration or the Arab Spring or a political party. It's an indigenous African citizens independence movement that is rising from the birthplace of Africa's 1st republic-the 169 years old Republic of Liberia. read more read less

7 years ago #africa, #democracy, #liberia, #politics, #torli