| From: | "Pras Anand" <pras_anand(at)hotmail.com> |
|---|---|
| Date: | Fri, 10 Nov 2006 04:09:32 +0100 |
| Subject: | Thoughts about our definitions of democracy (and a general ramble) |
|
What is Direct democracy? Isn't spending your money a direct democracy? Have
you heard of the terms E-Democracy, E-Governance, E-Voting, E-Inclusion,
E-tc. I still find these discussions avoid the real
point. Play little social games of grand subjects. Or learn how to actually
create solutions on a scaleable level to try and explore the real change in real
terms. The issue of democracy is so deep, that none of us can truly claim
to understand it. The meaning of democracy is easy to understand, but the hard
part is realising the implications. Very few people have a broad understanding
of people. They tend to know a few people who are quite like them, so how can
they imagine what a democracy could really mean when many kinds of people are
placed into the equation. On the larger scale, global shifts and trends are
being explored. If you are around these people, you might see that they are not
half as far as we'd like them to be. Their ideas aren't usually too great, but
at least they are having them. There are some excellent advances in terms of
true ENGAGEMENT. They haven't really arrived there yet, but they are and
many people are changing that process in small or big ways. I'm confident that there are enough people in the
corporate, government and other agencies that are good. As company policies
change, so do the people who rise to the top. When good people are higher in a
company, the company will be more responsible on the whole. It is too easy to
point the finger and say the current way sucks. If the current way sucks - change it. Or sit down
and shut your complaining. Make a real difference, or complain about the current
situation. It's the same for very small issues, like "i hate the taxes" to very
big issues like "i will defend my country's border from enemy attacks". Be a
player, soldier, protector, creator, connector or whatever, but don't talk about
it so much as if it's some intellectual challenge. Go and look what is going on
in the world and how far we've actually come towards a better democracy. Or to
put it more acurately - a world where everyone has the right to live as they
want. I would add - as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. Same old shit. Don't call it democracy or direct
democracy or whatever. If you have some special definition that you want to give
me as to what direct democracy means, make sure it is a concept that makes sense
- and is actually creating a positive change. Because, I don't see what is
direct or democratic from many of the writers I've read on this forum. I've had
some great contact with several people doing some amazing stuff. But I just
wanted to say that there are always ways to achieve change. If you don't know
how - there are others here on the forum, that would happily share links,
websites, experiences etc. We got to help each other - I'm just not sure how
many people are engaged in change. A lot of people talk about a lot. But have
they ever watched the life of brian? Come on man, the people's front of judea
was a joke from like 30 something years ago. Things don't change that much because people don't
change that much. Same old patterns, same old shit. Change today because you
have the choice. Buy my book - haha, kidding I've seen a discussion about political ideologies
but no reference to technology, media, commercial activities (and I don't mean
hating the corporates as if they were a species of "evil doers"). |