Tag: Representative Democracy

If You Want Democracy Then Learn…..

Since this country is proud of its democracy maybe a good thing to do is learn a few basic skills that will preserve the democracy that we all say we love…..they are much needed skills as we watch the republic slide into disarray.

This is probably not going to happen because most Americans think they know all there is about the Constitution, the very foundation of this nation.

If you truly love the democracy this country has to have and use all the techniques at our disposal…..if not then the slide that started back in 2010 will eventually eat away at the foundations of this country until we are left with nothing….nothing good.

These simple skills will help this democracy survive and thanx to the site courterpunch.org these skills are easily learned and used….even for the thickest dolts out there…..

As primaries roll out around the country, we’re tracking voter turnout. Raised on Schoolhouse Rock’s cartoon civics lessons, I know that being a good American means voting.

Those 1970’s cartoons weren’t wrong. Voting is the most fundamental act of democratic citizenship. That’s why it has been fiercely contested throughout our history.

But now we’re in the 21st century, deluged by information, increasingly divided, with few models of bipartisanship.

Democracy now requires much more than voting. What should a 21st century Schoolhouse Rocks teach?

Finding information

Most fundamentally, we need to be skilled seekers of information. In this era of deepfakes, bots, and fragmenting media platforms, the ability to access and evaluate information is key. Algorithms push us ever more deeply into one point of view. To address multifaceted 21st century issues, we need deliberately to seek a variety of information, including backstories about controversial events, from differing sources to construct the whole picture.

Understanding our own biases

We must process information skillfully, getting around our inherent neurobiological biases. For example, we naturally lap up information that confirms what we already think but ignore information that challenges our world view. We also are wired for double standards: we attribute another person’s bad behavior to their personality (“she’s late because she’s disrespectful”) while giving ourselves a pass for the same behavior (“I’m late because traffic was bad”). Understanding these natural biases lets us challenge ourselves to explore issues more fully.

Having conversations – not arguments – across divides

Understanding biases promotes a third democratic skill: truly talking with one another. Research, including my own, shows that liberals and conservatives alike often experience cross-divide conversations as an assault on their values. Yet most people also believe these conversations are important and would like to have them to feel connected and informed.

Constructive conversations require listening and asking good questions. Political scientist Andrew Dobson describes listening as our “democratic deficit.” We rarely listen closely to the other side. This undermines our ability to create policy which is seen as a legitimate outcome of democratic debate. Nor do we ask enough genuinely curious questions to learn why others think what they do to help find common ground. As Steve Benjamin, former head of the National Conference of Mayors, noted, “We all suffer from some degree of experiential blindness and need to become experts at learning about others’ perspectives.”

Having complicated relationships

Perhaps the most important – and most difficult — 21st century citizenship skill is maintaining relationships with people who think differently. For a democracy to function, we need not only a robust marketplace of ideas, but also the ability to work together for policy that meets widespread needs. A conservative interviewee in my study remarked, “Everybody is so comfortable being polarized – they are not happy unless they’re mad.”

It’s challenging to hold conflicting feelings about people, appreciating their good qualities while disagreeing on politics. But perhaps we make it harder than it is.

Research shows we overestimate both how much the other party dislikes us as well as how much they disagree with us about policy. Asking genuinely curious questions and remembering what we appreciate just might help us find that we have more in common than we think. Our 21st century democracy needs us to develop these skills.

Learn these skills and use them…..it will not be easy but survival is essential for this country.

Next Question.

How many amendments are there to the Constitution?

(I pause here for the dash to the Google machine)

27 and can you name them?

Do not hurt yourself I can help you out…..

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The First Amendment lays out five basic freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the freedom to petition the government.

hese rights were important to establish because they ensured that individuals could think, speak, and act without fear of being punished for disagreeing with the government. 

In addition to being arguably one of the most important amendments, the First Amendment is still very much at the center of America’s political discourse today — from questioning whether or not Twitter bots have First Amendment rights to whether or not the White House banning a CNN reporter violates the Constitution.

https://www.insider.com/what-are-all-the-amendments-us-constitution-meaning-history-2018-11#the-first-amendment-famously-protects-freedom-of-speech-1

Learn this stuff!

You must choose….does the republic survive as a democracy or will it divide itself along ignorant useless biased lines.

It is your decision….choose wisely.

Turn The Page!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Has The Social Contract Run It’s Course?

I have been writing about American politics almost as long as I have been writing on international stuff and all that time I have not seen the level of apathy from the American voter as we are witnessing these days.

Did you know in 2014 that only 36% of the registered voters exercised their right?  That my friends is an abysmal fact.

So is the social contract nearing an end?

But first do you know what is meant by the social contract?

In case you are not clear…..I will give the simplest definition I could think of on the spot……A usually implicit agreement among the members of an organized society or between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each.

This country has lost its national identity….we are nothing than a collection of people that sees ‘enemies’ at every turn…..even to our neighbors who we cherish in the good times and belittle if they run into problems and needs government assistance….then our neighbors are “freeloaders”.

That is NOT what this country is suppose to be……this country has gone from a country of Americans…….. it has become “us against them” attitude….even when it involves our neighbors…..some have the idea that the American Dream is only for people that agree with their convoluted idea of what this country is all about……

If the trend continues we will be lucky to get 30% of the voting population to show up….and then any unity this country has had will be gone.

Americans need to stop worshiping at the heels of morons!  If they cannot find a way to regain the national unity we once had as a country then Ben Franklin’s cartoon becomes more profound than it was in his day……

If we want to retain what little democratic traditions we have left then it is time to put all this infantile bickering behind us….if we cannot then kiss this country GOOD-BYE!

Knee-jerk reactions and comments is helping NO one….especially the psyche of the nation.  We have become a nation of knee-jerk reactions and look how successful we have become at alienating the citizens of our nation.

Think about that while pointing your finger at your neighbor for whatever reason.  Without national unity we got NOTHING!

I hope you people are pleased with yourselves!  This nation is losing the fight with apathy

I think it is a national embarrassment.

PERIOD!

Ever Heard Of James Mill?

College of Political knowledge

Since the SCOTUS judgment on the “Citizen United” case there has been a massive argument or exchange or debate on the values or not of letting special interests buy the government (in case there is any doubt….I think the ruling was the most detrimental ruling in a century)……..I have given my readers lots to think about…at least I hope they are thinking and acting……over the years many political philosophers have seen the harm that could be done by special interest cash flowing to politicians……

In case there is any doubt…..I have been a radical from most of my adult life and have studied the radical theories and writings throughout history….I happen to remember something written by an English radical, James Mill not to be confused with John Stuart Mill (that is a post for another day)……however James was his father.

The Utilitarian and Philosophic Radical James Mill (1773-1836) wrote a series of articles for the Supplement to the 1825 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. In the article on “Government” he warns of the dangers of the selfish and “sinister interests” all those who wield power, unless checked by an informed people:

We have seen already, that if one man has power over others placed in his hands, he will make use of it for an evil purpose; for the purpose of rendering those other men the abject instruments of his will. If we, then, suppose, that one man has the power of choosing the Representatives of the people, it follows, that he will choose men, who will use their power as Representatives for the promotion of this his sinister interest.

We have likewise seen, that when a few men have power given them over others, they will make use of it exactly for the same ends, and to the same extent, as the one man. It equally follows, that, if a small number of men have the choice of the Representatives, such Representatives will be chosen as will promote the interests of that small number, by reducing, if possible, the rest of the community to be the abject and helpless slaves of their will.

In all these cases, it is obvious and indisputable, that all the benefits of the Representative system are lost. The Representative system is, in that case, only an operose and clumsy machinery for doing that which might as well be done without it; reducing the community to subjection, under the One, or the Few.

When we say the Few, it is seen that, in this case, it is of no importance whether we mean a few hundreds, or a few thousands, or even many thousands. The operation of the sinister interest is the same; and the fate is the same, of all that part of the community over whom the power is exercised. A numerous Aristocracy has never been found to be less oppressive than an Aristocracy confined to a few.

The general conclusion, therefore, which is evidently established is this; that the benefits of the Representative system are lost, in all cases in which the interests of the choosing body are not the same with those of the community.

Since the beginning (well almost) men with far reaching thinking have seen the damage that money and special interests can do when it drives the political agenda…..and what that agenda  can do to the health of democracy….WHY CAN’T WE?

You Want Change?

In 2008 we all fell for the con job of change and hope…..we have had neither in almost 3 years and now we are about to enter into the 2012 primary season…..and once again I hear the word change being thrown around but this time it is from the Right.

I have written a couple of post on a way to achieve REAL change not the veiled promises of bought and paid for politicians…….You Want Change?  Then read these posts first…..http://t.co/18gNDYo

That one post has other post referenced…please read them…they will help explain where I am coming from….

There are others who feel as I do….that this system of picking our leaders is useless and antiquated…….

The following criteria are listed in [an] LWV study:

  • Ensure majority rule. Most major political races currently can be won with only a plurality.
  • Encourage minority representation, where minority is defined by either party or cultural
  • affiliation.
  • Encourage fair gender representation.
  • Produce fair and accurate representation of diverse political views in legislatures.
  • Increase voter participation.
  • Encourage geographical representation.
  • Encourage “sincere” voting, as opposed to “strategic” voting.
  • Maximize effective votes/minimize “wasted” votes.
  • Provide a reasonable range of voter choice.
  • Prevent fraud and political manipulation.
  • Encourage competitive elections

–League of Women Voters in Oregon, Criteria for Evaluating Election Systems, Election Methods: Review of Alternatives and Oregon, Proposals, Executive Summary

All these are reasonable and logical and rational changes that could go a long way to changing the way that we are governed….the system we have now is NOT doing the people of the US any good….it only perpetuates the exploitation of the voter……

Like I have said…there are several others that have valid ideas for giving the people the final voice in the governing of the country…..try this one on……http://t.co/7U8uCSZ   ……..A group named “Get Out Of Our House (GOOOH)”…..personally I think that they are on to something here….

Anything has GOT to be better than the joke, the circus that we have now!

Thoughts?

Representation Without………

Inkwell Institute

The College of Political Knowledge

Professor’s Classroom

Subject:  Government/Representation/

Paper #22

After watching and ranting about the government and its misfires, I feel I need to talk about our form of representation….it is our pride and joy…our representative form of democracy….of our Republic.

you want the representative form of government but what type of representation do you want?  Yes, Irene, there are several types of representation and our Founders knew this….so what type do you prefer?

The truth of the matter is that your representation SUCKS!

With that out of the way, let us look at the different types and those that pushed the various forms of representation……

There is a reactionary theory of representation….Alexander Hamilton was a believer…the theory is based on the need for law and authority, the executive, the leader of the government, and legislative branch would rule in the interests of the people, as they determined the interests.  The people would have their input but the politicians being of superior knowledge and judgment and that they should not be hindered by popular sentiment.  And that the masses are required to support the decisions of the leaders since they, the leaders, were acting in the people’s best interests.

James Madison was a believer in the conservative theory of representation, which grants the people control but discourages their public participation in the act of governing.  People chose their leaders but do not have the right to force them to act and behave in a very particular way.  The people may replace representative only at a prescribed time, a election and with people of the same class as the ones they had, the elites.

The liberal theory of representation was embraced by Thomas Jefferson, that All people were equal and in as such were equally qualified to rule.  This form of representation sees the representative as a messenger of his/her constituents.  Thus the Rep is obliged to vote the way of the people’s concerns.

Finally the is the radical theory of representation of which only one of our Founders (even if he is ignored) believed and that would be Thomas Paine.  This theory proposes that the vast citizenry should have the call as to policy of the nation.  This theory holds that the people are the only ones capable of governing themselves.  This is what we today call direct democracy and the only true form of representation…but this will never happen….it is NOT what politicians want…..they want input (on a limited basis) but they do NOT want the public to participate in policy.

There has been an argument for decades, even centuries on whether the Reps should be concerned with the people’s will or their interests.  What is your opinion on representation?

It’s “Tyranny Of The Majority”!

Professor’s Classroom

Subject:  American History/Political Science

Paper #10

Tyranny of the majority was coined by de Tocqueville in his study and book, “Democracy In America”.  A difficult political term to define….but I will try to explain it a bit……this is one of those terms in politics that takes thought and interpretation……depends where you stand, politically and who you are talking about…….

Tyranny of the majority, used in discussing systems of democracy and majority rule, is a criticism of the scenario in which decisions made by a majority under that system would place that majority’s interests so far above a dissenting individual’s interest that the individual would be actively oppressed, just like the oppression by tyrants and despots.

And then there was the Federalist #10 written by James Madison:

No. 10 addresses the question of how to guard against “factions,” or groups of citizens, with interests contrary to the rights of others or the interests of the whole community. In today’s discourse the term advocacy group or special interest group often carries the same connotation. Madison argued that a strong, large republic would be a better guard against those dangers than smaller republics—for instance, the individual states.

But first, in case there is any confusion, the Federalist Papers were a bunch of editorials written by founding fathers that were in support of a strong central government during the debate over the “new” Constitution.

What can we say about this subject?

If you are old enough to remember your Civics class….what was the major theme of the class?  America is Great and majority rule….right?

Okay that is out of the way…….now let us look at any given public traded corporation……it takes a majority of the shareholders to pass any issue that confronts the operation of the company….That is call ‘Majority rules”! Then why when a majority, a simple majority, of 51% a bad thing….I was taught that the majority rules….is it rue or not?

What Is With Representative Democracy?

Professor’s Classroom

Subject:  Political Theory

Paper #2

A good question…..some will say nothing and yet others will say everything…..after many years of watching and participating in the political process of this country I have come to believe the latter….I have been a radical that believes that the people are the political power and have been an advocate of participatory democracy for all those years….but yet there will be those that say the our present form of democracy is the best…that representative democracy is the best way for the country to behave…..I will disagree.

Is there a good reason that I feel this way?  Yep and a big one……the present system eliminates the people from the process with the exception of elections every so often…all other decisions are made for us…whether we think they are a good idea or not….it is all about what the ruling elites want, not what the people want…..

People are starting to question the validity of the representative democracy for many reason, but the most common are:

1–too much is expected of the process

2–it completely fails to rev the people up or to generate much interest in the process

3–the people gravitate to individuals not issues

4–fails to find solutions to complex problems and issues

Since the days of our Civics classes, which are a thing of the past, we have been taught that the answers to ALL of life’s problems can be fixed by our representatives, whether it be in Washington or at the local level……but there is a bigger truth that is somehow lost in the shuffle and that is that the representative body is too weak to solve the massive problems facing the people…..if an example is needed then just look at the whole recent debate of health reform (at least at the time of this writing)……why would I say this?……the players in the representative game are pre-occupied with the longevity in Washington and everything else is just a bothersome task that has to be attempted……the masses are nothing but a pack that needs to be manipulated….

The representatives seem to be trying less and less to involve the people in the decisions that concern them…..the people are nothing more than a consumer of the political rhetoric that is uttered daily….there is NO more face to face discussion between the pols and the people, instead there is the one way media….that means that the media reports on one aspect and all else matters not……the media has gained so much influence that it leads to a massive manipulation by the elites and because of that the original idea of the Founders is only a vague memory in a historian’s head…..

The Founding Fathers, back in the day, did not want the masses involved in the national discourse….but they thought that a face to face with the reps back home would make the running of the country much easier and more streamline…..originally it probably was, because in the communities everyone knew everyone else…..but today that is NO longer possible….the idea of a face to face debate with the rep is just a pipe dream from the past….

For many many years the representative form of democracy has been failing the people……yet those same people allow it to continue…..why?

The answer is very simple…..Americans allow the rep form of government to continue because they are too passive and badly misinformed…just an example of what I just said…..in a recent survey of self-described Repubs, 63% said that Obama is a socialist….that right there illustrates the completeness of American ignorance…..Americans have a very weak commitment to educate themselves on political matters, they prefer to rely on slogans, sound bites and lies to make the political decsisions….

The champions of Rep dem point to the need for an “educated elite” as the tools of governance…….Rep government is “by the people” but it rests on the wide shoulders of the elite to make it so…..

Is there another way of governance?  For me there is….I prefer what is known as participatory democracy, where the decision are made by the people…..but sadly it will NEVER come to fruit for the very reasons I outlined above……why?   Well as I see it…the masses, for lack of a better word, are at times too intolerant, nationalistic, anti- intellectual, alienated, hateful and violent….issues that would make good governance a nightmare….

So for now we are saddled with the representative form of democracy…the people trust their reps to govern as they intend, which is naive at best….just look at health reform…the majority wants reform but a few ruling elites have decided that it is not to be….and in turn the people get in line and accept the lies as truth……a pathetic ignorance……

There is so many facets to this debate that it would be virtually impossible to summarize it in a 1000 words or less…..I hope that a little more understanding has been had by my readers……..

Next watch for Part 3 of this series entitled Bureaucracy:  Management by paperwork.