Minister Malcolm X taught that if one seeks to change people's behaviors, they must first change people's thinking. The 2008 election was indeed an important event, and offered the possibility of significant change. And some things, such as the Affordable Care Act, have happened.
However, in many other ways, the nation is heading down the same path. Foreign policy is the prime example: the US military continues to be active in on-going conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. The public has little idea to what extent, because the media doesn't report accurately. And members of Congress do not take their responsibility to educate and inform the public seriously.
The "Enterprise" was a multi-national group, that made use of mercenary groups. The Cheneyites continued that with Black Water, etc. As President, Obama has found that he has little control over these types of things. Corporate para-military groups, not tied to nation-states as closely as to business interests, are operating around the globe. And, as I noted in an OP a couple of months ago, domestic groups such as the gas industry are now able to contract with military intelligence to "lobby" poor communities to sign leases for hydrofracking.
Hence, the Constitution has been suspended, in a very real sense. Again, the media doesn't report on this, and the only person in DC who had the guts to inform and attempt to educate the public was the late Senator Robert Byrd, in his 2004 book "Losing America." Byrd was very specific in saying the federal government had been suspended on 9-11, and that the "shadow government" was placed in power.
That "shadow government" concept was first developed under Eisenhower; it was updated under Reagan, by VP Bush and Oliver North. It included plans to bypass the Congress and federal courts, and to put a mix of unelected executive branch officials, military intelligence, and corporate leaders in charge. By no coincidence, Bush and North also devised the Enterprise -- which acted as the government in the 1980s. Iran-Contra was merely the tip of the ice cube, which they got caught doing.
I think that the best thing citizens can do is to exercise their Constitutional rights/muscles. I believe that grass roots activism, which includes informing and educating others, is the first step. When the different groups and individuals engaged in grass roots activism join forces, they can then address issues at the next level -- maybe county, eventually state. And eventually, they will be able to elect good people for Congress, and the presidency.
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