Real Democracy

This blog is dedicated to issues and concerns of "Real Democracy."

What is real democracy? [partial list of criteria]

A system where We the People have a legitimate opportunity to shape, implement and evaluate decisions affecting our lives.
The voice of every person counts. All votes are equal.
All people have adequate time and information to make decisions.
Whether the issues are local, regional, national or global; political, social or economic, decisions made without our direct or indirect legitimate input are illegitimate.
The more directly we're involved in decisions which directly affect us, the more democracy or self-governance exists.

What is unreal or phony democracy? [There's much of this in our society.]

Providing input that is not useful (input after the fact or ignored).
Voting on useless things (i.e. online votes for winners of American Idol, best football quarterback, etc.).
Small group meetings (such as focus groups) or surveys designed to find out what we like/dislike for the purpose of marketing a product or service.
Questionnaires connected to fundraising (from political parties, interest groups, etc). Most of these are primarily concerned about raising money.
Elections and the making of public laws where money and influence from a few (i.e. wealthy) drown out the voices and influence of the many.
Regulatory hearings where the public is provided only token opportunities to offer input and where regulators lack the power to control corporate actions.
Any process where business corporations possess constitutional "right" to influence outcomes

Greg Coleridge [GColeridge@afsc.org]

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Thursday, December 20th 2007

2:06 AM (198 days, 13h, 26min ago)

AUCTIONING THE MAGNA CARTA

You may have read the Magna Carta (considered to be the forerunner of the US Constitution) was auctioned off yesterday in New York City for $21.3 million. Some might think it strange to sell off what some consider to be one of the most sacred and historic democratic documents in the world. Really? Our government (pieces of it anyway in terms of policies, resources, protection, etc.) is auctioned off every day to the highest bidder in the form of campaign donations/investments and promises by wealthy individuals and corporations to politicians and regulators of jobs/income/favors.

- Greg Coleridge GColeridge@afsc.org

Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 2:06 PM