Participating in democracy is not just shouting your particular dogma more loudly. It’s having the courage to face that dogma, and test it, to research and confront your most ingrained ideas. This requires hard work, I’m afraid, and may cost you some fair weather friends. If this doesn’t appeal to you, I’m sorry. Maybe democracy is not what you want.
Omniop 
Perhaps democracy is a failed ideal, perhaps another form of government is needed.
Or perhaps people just have to get off their duffs and put in the effort.
I agree, work creates, maintains or renews, but is the effort better spent on something else than democracy?
Such as?
I’m actually all for a monarchy…under me.
Ha!
I’d be a horrible king… I know this. I already know this.
You know, if you don’t mind a request for a blog post, I’d be interested to see your take on something I heard from an economics professor. He stated that if you look at the regulations in the US, that the US actually has one of the most communistic, command and control systems in the world. I’d be curious to know what you think of that, and, if at all possible, how that might play a role, if at all, in this whole Snowden/NSA thing going on. What’s your opinion on that? Only if you don’t mind my asking.
I don’t mind at all. I’ll have to think about it. We certainly don’t have a free market economy. Were you thinking my blog or yours? BTW, I just wrote a naughty little piece about our other discussion. Meant in good fun, I hasten to add.
It’s all good on that. If I seem heated in a discussion, that’s something to do with how I…word things I think…
I’ve been told I come off like I’m angry or something. Which I think I am…which is why I’m actually going to be taking a break this week (it’s really because I’m tired and burned out. I don’t remember the last time I took a break from blogging…which might make me a bit obsessive, I think…).
I never thought about doing the guest blog thing, but we can do that either way. In fact, if you want to do a guest blog, I’m cool with that. You’ll be the first ever guest blog on the Arkside, but this subject matter won’t be exactly unusual there, so, that would work out famously, I’d say. Just let me know when you’re ready, even if it’s on my break, and I can get up there, or if you’re more comfortable posting it at your place, that’s all you. Either way, I’m curious. My professor surprised me with that and I just guessed you’d be able to offer further insight on the matter, and this memory just randomly popped up when democracy was bouncing around in my head.
Sounds good. I actually used to teach the historical side of that. Maybe we could trade guest blogs? I’d love to hear your take on how to get past all the gangsta crap in rap, or even whether that’s a good idea.
Give me a couple of days.
Oh…man…don’t get me started on that… I think most Rappers should be dropped. Immediately.
We can do that. That’ll work out famously!
Great! I sent you an email, assuming that email on your gravatar is good.
Let me check…
Okay. Just sent you an email. Looks like everything is good! 🙂
Agreed! I love Jefferson’s First Inaugural address: “We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.”
Now that’s democracy. Faith in the diversity of opinions and the ability to realize that we have more at stake than mere opinions.
Thanks for sharing!
Exactly. We’ve all been too loud, too long.
Well put. I like that phrase, “too loud, too long.”
Most people want peace and shelter, yet we still see war, terrorism, people homeless and die of starvation. Why can’t democracy solve it? It’s most people’s wants… Of course the world is not that simple, but there’s something wrong with the system.
The system is fine, it’s the people. Democracy is more than just majority rule; the interests of minorities also need to be respected. This involves compromise, which has become a dirty word. Hence, you get Egypt, or the legislative stalemate in the US.
While I think people should work harder (and need to) I also see that the average person simply doesn’t have the time or energy to follow every news story or become informed enough to question particular dogmas efficiently. And I also believe that the reason people are so overworked is partly because of the problems left unsolved or created by politicians, thus creating a cycle where citizens are distracted and ill-informed so they elect those that are creating the problems in the first place.