One man's conclusion of what it takes to have and keep....

[whistle]

....democracy. I agree that democracy is a gift and so depending on how that gift is valued really determines whether or not we as a nation get to keep it.

<snip>
On a very personal level I draw the following conclusions:-

1. Democracy is not a natural state, it is not the "norm" and therefore
when it exists it should be treated as a precious gift and valued highly.

2. Democracy will never be perfect, but it is better than any other
system that has been used to date.

3. The ancient Greeks invented the word, but never perfected the system

4. Education is the means to perpetuate democracy.

5. Democracy is under attack from Racism, Tribalism, Elitism, and often
Religious causes

6. Democracy means to have freedom of speech, but the common sense to
know when or not to use it

7. Democracy means to live without fear... That encompasses all fears
including the fear of unemployment

8. Democracy is a fine balance of your rights as an individual combined
with a collective responsibility to the country we live in... Often these
will clash

9. Our own politicians will often commit major crimes under the
disguise of democracy

10. The big risk that threatens democracy is in fact the politicians
that we elect

11. The biggest threat to democracy comes from the population as they
become greedy or apathetic

12. Democracy in the UK is renewed after every major conflict.


I could not have come to these 12 conclusions had I not written these few
notes.. you must form your own conclusions

Thank you for listening.....Simply Steve

<link> http://www.the-old-sea-dog.net/d25.html

[TwentyFive]

1. Our biggest threat to Democracy is that we've become too wealthy & comfy!

Too many people have been bought off with comfortable surburban homes, Starbucks coffee, cell phones and SUVs. They think they have theirs, and view everything as a threat to losing their comfortable way of life.

Bush/Cheney has played on that fear. People are willing to give up their rights to freedom of speech and privacy...in order to make sure the terrorists are rooted out.

Perhaps they forget what Ben Franklin said about those who will trade a little freedom for security.....they will get neither!

[whistle]

4. Yep....point #11 on the list

[4morewars]

2. Democracy is majority rule

That's all it is. It does not guarantee anything else. Only that 50% plus one will set the rules. That is why the United States, a Constitutional Republic, has things like the fillibuster rules, to guarantee that the minority has a voice in the governing of the people.

[whistle]

5. In other words item #8 which involves individual sacrifice for....

...the common welfare, but does it not also allow that the minority and individual voice be heard?

[G_j]

3. Don't forget the ideas taken from the Iroquois Confederacy

Some of the founders were profoundly interested in the the "Democratic" structure in which "autonomous states" functioned within the Iroquois Confederacy.

I'll look for a link.

ed: here ya go,

"Iroquois Confederacy" democracy
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-18,RNWE:en&q=%22Iroquois+Confederacy%22+democracy

"Iroquois Confederacy" democracy Franklin
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2004-18,RNWE:en&q=%22Iroquois+Confederacy%22+democracy+Franklin

[whistle]

7. That is item #12....

...as described in "Iroquois Confederacy and the Influence Thesis"


<snip>
The Peacemaker

Iroquois legend tells of the journey of the Peacemaker, also called "Dekanawidah." (Lutz 1998:103.) The Peacemaker journeyed to all five nations of the Haudenosaunee - Mohawk, Onieda, Onandaga, Cayuga, and Seneca - asking each to stop warring and live in peace with each other. At each stop, he brought good fortune, and the people believed him. When he reached the Onandaga, in the middle of all five peoples, he met Tadadaho, an evil man who would not consent to the union with the others. The Peacemaker persuaded him to relent by promising him that he could watch over the Council Fire; Tadadaho believed he would be able to remain in control this way When the representatives from the five nations reached the first League meeting, they had brought weapons. The Peacemaker had them bury their weapons beneath the Great Tree of Peace and admonished all who lived beneath the tree to always look ahead for the sake of the League. He then gave each an arrow. He broke an arrow to show that standing apart from each other, they are easily broken. He then bundled the arrows and failed to break them, showing the strength they will have if they stand together. He then told them that in the future people will come who do not understand the Tree and will hack its roots. When the tree begins to fall, they must hold the tree and keep it from hitting the ground. When they can hold it no longer, they must have their children hold the Tree, for it must never hit the ground (Swamp 1996:42-47.)

<more>
<link> http://www.campton.sau48.k12.nh.us/iroqconf.htm

[G_j]

10. Jake Swamp

a dear person, who has planted ceremonial trees of peace around the world.

It is also said that the roots of the Tree of Peace would extend to all nations (surely not the course of those who have subverted Democracy!)

Democracy is truly a sacred ideal that looks to the "better angels" of humanity to make peace a living possibility. Or as the Peacemaker taught: All people possess the "good mind" so it is possible for people to live in peace.

[whistle]

11. We should pray for the peace that comes from the good mind

...but evil is such an infectious and corroding force.

[G_j]

12. interesting how

people like Bush and Falwell etc. seek to tap the destructive sides of human nature, the "Bad Mind"?
When the Peace Keeper first approached the different tribes they were caught in a cycle of revenge, retribution and retaliation. The very "values" being taught to our children through 'endless' war. But we will continue to work for the day the "Good Mind" will once again be nurtured and honored.

[whistle]

13. Indeed....

<link> http://www.worldpeace.org/

...and the Children's Peace Prayer

Let There Be Peace On Earth,
and let it begin with me.
Let There Be Peace On Earth,
the peace that was meant to be.
With God as Creator,
family all are we,
Let me walk with my family,
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me,
let this be the moment now,
With ev'ry step I take,
let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment
in peace, eternally.
Let There Be Peace On Earth,
and let it begin with me.

[leftofthedial]

6. one addition

"5. Democracy is under attack from Racism, Tribalism, Elitism, and often
Religious causes"

and Capitalism

[whistle]

8. Uhum, items #10 and #11

[whistle]

9. What I'm seeing by the responses so far, is that before we....

...can solve a problem, we need to understand what the real problem is. We can't just attack the symptoms and try to fix those only, we have to get to the root of the problem.

For example, I hear right wing pundits attack the concept of democracy in the United States, by repeatedly pointing out that the U.S. is a constitutional republic, while democracy is simply majority rule and that the majority in this country was, is now and always has been a despicable mob unfit to rule themselves or to know what is best for the country. In this way, democracy becomes debased and devalued as the process of repetition of this idea takes it's toll on the minds and memories of the country's citizens.

Solution to overcome these kinds of falsehoods, apply items #4 and #5.

What do the rest of you think?