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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Tuesday, January 8th 2008

1:33 PM (179 days, 1h, 59min ago)

HOPE IN THE NEW YEAR: THE PROGRESSIVE POPULIST

A few years back, I received a sample copy in the mail of “The Progressive Populist”. It was not familiar to me but once I quickly examined it, I was amazed at the contents and even more amazed that up to now it had been such a well-kept secret. Here in 24 page newspaper/journal format with no corporate advertising were articles by some of my favorite people: Jim Hightower, Normon Solomon, Ralph Nader, Amy Goodman, and the late, great Molly Ivins. Mixed in for eye/soul candy, were eviscerating cartoons by Matt Wuerker, Tom Tommorrow, and Ted Rall. It seemed that someone had sent to me my very own made-to-order publication. I now look forward to each new issue. It sometimes saddens me, often infuriates me, and above all, always informs and I believe, empowers me. In the 60’s a wise person said: “Think globally, act locally.” This is the “globally” part with a home-spun, from the “American heartland”, edge to it. Reject the mass-media dis-information of corporate/cable news and take in the fresh air of independent, real substance that all progressives can put to use! Greg Coleridge of AFSC has called this journal “…an excellent resource…should be required reading for progressives/populists”, and I believe he is right on. To get a free, sample issue, contact me and I will forward your address to the publisher. I called them and was assured that for sample issues they do NOT share your address. If you are led to subscribe, you can then inform them to not share your address and they will be happy to oblige. I personally am getting nothing out of this other than the satisfaction of hopefully getting other progressives informed about some of the truths revealed here that I find nowhere else. Sincerely, Bernie Bisheimer (bernie9125@aol.com)