Fa'aSamoa vs US Constitution (original post February 18, 2012)

When Governor Togiola went on board the Costa Deliziosa, he described Samoa as a war faring country. In Malama Meleisea’s Lagaga, the author notes an old proverb which says “E tala tau Toga ae tala tofi Samoa” (Tongan traditions are those of war whereas those of Samoa are about divisions). That saying more accurately describes the history of our proud country as it does today’s politics.

In many ways, our traditional political system did hundreds of years ago what the US Constitution only began to envision when it was adopted in 1787. In terms of governance, the fa’asamoa ensured matters were elaborated, not decided in the Fono. Also, a paramount chief was only but one voice amongst all the heads (matai) of families in a nu’u. We were all about “checks and balances” before anyone even had the chance to coin the term.

The US Constitution and our founding fathers also did not see the purpose of government to act efficiently. The Constitution’s many mechanics were meant to slow down the decision-making process to ensure all sectors of society had input. Consider a majority-based house, state-appointed Senators (until the 17^th amendment), a President and a Judiciary before laws can be made and upheld.

Liberalism’s curse is to deprive us of that great heritage. In the progressive’s view, a government’s level of sophistication depends on its effectiveness or its ability and efficiency to act. Deliberation and following protocol is secondary at best, if at all a concern compared to addressing whatever issue may be at hand.

Despite their disdain for corporations, that is exactly what and how liberals want government to function. They want to streamline the process, cut out the delays in order to meet a deadline. That is contrary to the Constitution, whose primary function is to keep power in check. If an action is held up because the US Senate cannot muster the necessary 60 votes to override a filibuster, then wait it must.

But liberalism has long looked down on our traditions as well as that of the Constitution because of their “inefficiencies”, if you will. Progressives continually long for strong executives to tame the natural disparities of the market and discipline dissenting voices into political obedience.   

We have a lot to be proud of in the development of our political culture as of late from the petitions to the protests. But we have a choice to make. A political system designed to elaborate and debate the issues and require everyone’s input is not meant to manage enterprises such as our hospital, energy, telecommunication, the shipyard, etc. as corporations are meant to.