What is democracy? LO15728

Frank Billot (fbillot@avignon.pacwan.net)
Mon, 10 Nov 1997 22:15:32 +0000

Replying to LO15663 --

Hi Doc,

>I may be out of track in the interpretation of what you wrote
>There is no "democracy." But the power to rule me and govern me comes
>from me; and when, and if, I'm ready to rescind that power, that is my
>decision.

I feel that the enlargement of our communities (ie. complex societies,
globalisation and so forth) brings about the impression to many that the
power to rule one's life has vanished.

In former village communities, exchange with the outisde where not that
crucial as they are now, the impact of decisions taken outside did matter
in exceptional cases. Nowadays, it is the rule. This 'dis-empowerment' is
a major threat for the development of the democracy in our common world.

I would like to give a thought-provoking example, with no evil intentions:
IMO the current pressure of the US toward Iraq has for immediate effect to
unify a big part of Iraq's population with its 'leader'. The terrible
sufferings (hunger, diseases...) that the embargo puts on them soften the
sufferings of dictatorship.

When people have the feeling that some power out there oppresses them and
frustrates them from their rights, they are in a dead end. Despair often
leads to fundamentalism, how politically correct may your policy be.

Regards

-- 
Frank Billot   ---  820 chemin traversier   84210 Pernes les Fontaines  France
<fbillot@avignon.pacwan.net>
telephone 33 4 90 66 53 24


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