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Democracy

The Democratic motive

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There has been a lot of talk about the driving principals of the Democratic Party in America. It often hinges on the platform, often driven by the ‘left’ or progressive side of the party. And while I am more or less a progressive. I believe that what often is said about the Democratic party being liberal, it just that. And I also believe that is what is the current dilemma in the U.S. The democrats have often been described as spending more time arguing with itself rather than against the Republicans. And if they are to win elections they need to represent a clear deferential to the republican platform.

The republicans are controlled by a small neocon core with a very focused agenda. They do not represent a majority of the voting population. They may boast, and spin the illusion that they are the majority, but they are not. What the democratic party is, and represents are many voices, hence the arguing with itself. What the wrong everyone feels here, is not who is in control of the government, it is that the government voices the opinion of such a minority of the population. The democratic party is a mix of conservative, centralist and progressive voters, a clear cross section of american politics. The current ‘conservative’ party as it is being managed by the neocons, only represents the far right. The merely conservative, just right of center, are not part of the current republican neocon strategy. The complaint here is that the voices of the population, all the voices are not being heard. That is, at it’s core, the purpose of the Democratic party. And that should be the platform of the Democratic party. To represent ALL OF THE VIEWS of the American people. To bring back real democracy, where all voices are heard. That should be it’s battle cry, that it will listen to everyones voice. As opposed to the current republicans, that only want to hear the voices of their far right, a fundamentalist narrow perspective. It’s the reason they do not want freedom of speech. The airing of opposing viewpoints is counter to their objectives.

The Democratic party must represent all of the people of the U.S. not just the conservative far right as the current administration does. But they must take that voice from the far right and insure that their voice is heard along with the voices of their neighbor’s. The entire spectrum of the American voice should be heard through the voice of the Democratic party. That should be it’s strong point. Representation of the American People.

Democracy is philosophically complex

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When ever I hear some one proclaiming that they are striving to bring ‘Democracy to the world’ I shutter, and then mark it down as some one else who does not know what they are talking about. The following is an example of why I know they don’t know what they advocate when they say such things.

U.S. and Israelis Are Said to Talk of Hamas Ouster

The professed supporter of Democracy usually means that they support democracy so long as they win, or that the winners believe the same things as, and fall into line with, the speakers own agenda. The U.S. and Israeli politicians believed that the winners in the Palestinian election would be clones of themselves. And that is just not going to happen in a true Democracy.

The previous government in Palestine was corrupt, detached and did not help, or reflect the needs of the people they were elected to work for.


That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new guards for their future security

And if you think this is revolutionary, try reading the rest of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

Simpleton minds, hearing simplistic rhetoric often misunderstand what democracy really means. The form of government that the U.S. (and U.K, and most of the western ‘democracies’) exercises, is not a pure democracy, but a republic, with democratic foundations, governed by Laws that prevent Majorities from overturning minority rights. Such things as Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion are protections for minorities, they prevent the rule of the mob from overcoming the rights of the minority.

Traffic Lights in a Democratic Republic

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Having read again that the U.S. isn’t really a true democracy, but a republic. A republic that has at it roots, protections of the rights of the minority. It brings to light more of the ‘Republican’ goals, to replace the Republic with a democracy, where the majority requires the conformance of the minority. To reflect in everything they profess, no Gay rights, no Evolution, no Abortion, NO PERSONAL CHOICE only the majority chooses what it right, and correct for everyone. And only what is commercially correct. Everyone must believe in Christmas, Christmas is good for business.

I prefer the protection of the Republic for the rights of the individual and minority groups. Like freedom of speech, and religion.

I have often often wonder how ‘founded’ this ideal is, in the real world. And it came to me, traffic lights. (I know very strange)

Have you ever sat a traffic light, where no cars were crossing. Or where you are in a main traffic way, and the lights stop you, and hundreds of other car to allow only one car to cross or enter your traffic? That is the republic in action, protecting the single car from the majority of others from entering or crossing the lane.

In Ireland and other European countries, the ’roundabout’ is common, a truly democratic traffic condition, a single car cannot enter or cross until there is a break in the majority lane. I can not count the times when I have heard ’roundabouts’ equated with ‘chaos’ and they are. The term ‘Fate favors the Foolish’ can be attributed to roundabouts. But here in Ireland, and I’m sure in other places as well, traffic lights have been instituted at roundabouts, because in high traffic periods, roundabouts (ie. democracies) cannot cope. The republic rules, to correct the inadequacy of the democratic chaos created by the roundabout.

Here’s hoping.