The president of the United States in 1928 was Coolidge, a Republican president who practiced inaction and reportedly slept a lot while in office. He advocated small government and believed that the federal government should only provide the necessary minimum social services, while advocating "local autonomy" and "individual supremacy".
But even living under what the president calls a "small government", Collins still has to face the public power that is always waiting for an opportunity to inflate itself, and still has to look at the police officer's domineering face with tears in his eyes; the whole society still has to work with Collins. In the face of civil servants' dereliction of duty, corruption, and crime, I saw firsthand the fragility of civil rights in the face of power.
I believe that the constitutional democratic system in the United States at that time has already taken the lead in the world. However, you see, the reality will ruthlessly provide countless examples that seem to prove the "hypocrisy" and "ridiculous" of this system - from the Coolidge era 80 years ago, to today's Obama era. Times are progressing, but darkness and corruption still go hand in hand.
Obama said in his inaugural speech that the question is not whether the government is big or small, but whether it is effective - but this statement does not rule out fears that liberties and rights are being eroded and damaged, because the government may be "effective" for a while Then it brings more problems to society and every citizen, because the existence of government is itself a "problem".
Still, it's fine.
After all, in Los Angeles in 1928, newspapers could publish an update on the case, inform the public of the police's previous misjudgment of the child's disappearance, and force the psychiatric hospital to release Collins—rather than silence, or a collective statement of the same This kind of voice has become an accomplice of the government's persecution of citizens.
After all, the citizens of Los Angeles can legally and dignifiedly assemble and demonstrate in front of the city council, putting pressure on the council, making the police worry about his job, and making the mayor worry about his re-election ballots—rather than just being silent and ignorant of the truth spectator.
After all, the Los Angeles City Council really has the right to hold a hearing to investigate the police department’s malfeasance and criminal behavior, and on behalf of the public, it proposes the permanent suspension of Captain JJ Jones and the dismissal of the police chief, and finally prompts Jones to be suspended and the chief downgraded—— Instead, it can only be woken up every spring by applauding the administrators in the synagogue.
After all, there are self-governing social groups like the church.
After all, there is a lawyer who has won four civil lawsuits.
After all, there is a relatively independent court that can be relied on and trusted.
After all, for such a stubborn woman who is constantly "harassing" the police station, in addition to the executive branch, she also has various channels such as parliament, courts, media, and civic groups for her to seek benefits - what she finally gets is not " The notoriety of being a troublemaker or a medical record card of a "mental patient" is the respect that most people have for a citizen and mother.
So, fortunately, this government in Los Angeles is not so hateful.
So, fortunately, social justice in America in 1928 wasn't quite a joke.
Because of the division and mutual checks and balances of power, the protection of basic citizenship rights, and the relatively independent and autonomous civil society and mass media, it is (at least) that public power will not swell into a monster. The painful experience of being thrown into a mental hospital does not turn into a deep hatred of the government or even society, but only makes this Emotionally gripping, sometimes disturbing movie 80 years later. Art is always better than a sharp knife, isn't it?
1928 was the first year that Christine Collins began to persistently search for her own child, and it was also an election year in the United States. In this year's presidential election, Herbert Hoover won 444 electoral votes, defeating his opponent Al Smith, and was successfully elected as the 31st President of the United States.
I just want to ask, how far are we from America in 1928?
(02/14/2009)
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