Power to the People in a Democracy

Does the Democratic Party stand for "democratic" ideas? Is there a difference? If so, which is the superior? According to Webster's New World Dictionary, "democracy" is a "government in which the people hold the ruling power either directly or through elected representatives". It also defines it as "rule by the ruled". In other words, the power is with the people.

And if the power is with the people, the people decide what is best for the majority. That means if the majority of people believe that they have the right to "unionize" and get higher wages, in a democracy they have that right. If the majority decides our nation should have national insurance for everyone, they have that right. The people have that power, in a democracy. But are we in a democracy?

Just as there are "democratic" ideas, there are also "anti-democratic" ideas. There are those that do whatever they can to prevent the majority from getting their way. They are also called Republicans. They are the "anti-democratic" Party. They really stand for nothing, although they pretend to be for lower taxes and a strong defense. But that is just a front. They are simply an "anti-democratic" Party. They do whatever they can to prevent the lower and middle classes from challenging their class.

However, through deception and lies, they have convinced enough people - now it appears to be the majority - that they operate in their best interest. And if indeed, they are the majority, then our democracy is dead. The "anti-democratic" forces have won. The people no longer have the power.

There are those that do whatever they can to prevent the majority from getting their way. They are also called Republicans.

The majority SHOULD be prevented from always getting their way.

There is such a thing as individual rights and its as important or MORE important than democracy.

We don't vote on who can speak.
We don't vote on what religion everyone will belong to.
We don't vote on what news papers can be published.
We don't vote on who can and cannot assemble.

etc.

I'm glad we don't have total democracy. The religious conservatives would love that. The first thing they would do is create a national religion. Then they would outlaw "anti-american" news papers and speech.

And don't think "the people" wouldn't love it. They would. Just consider the flag burning issue. We are so close to banning that form of political speech. It's only the ANTI-DEMOCRATIC mechanisms of the constitution that hold it back. The constitution is difficult to change, fortunately.

Be glad after the last election that there are limits to democracy.

And remember this: democracy is NOT equal to freedom. They aren't the same by a long shot. If anything, pure democracy is a threat to the freedom of every sort of minority including the smallest minority -- the individual.

The people do not only not have the powers you so fear, but they have no power at all. If we were so afraid of the people and the majority, we would not have any of the freedoms we now enjoy. The minority has become the majority and you should really be afraid now. Because they have consolidated their power in an apathetic nation and with phony elections, have declared themselves the legitimate rulers of this country. And they do not hve your best interests or the majority of Americans' best interest at heart. They are class conscious.

The majority has ruled for 225 years and your "Bill of Rights" haven't been tossed. But now, we are indeed living in a "republic" and if the "religious conservatives" do their thing, it is not because they are the "majority". They are part of a phony minority that has won with phony elections and have declared themselves with a mandate. All their ideas are "anti-democratic". That is who you should fear - not the people.

Wanna job? Piss in a jar.
Wanna protest, get behind the big ass fence a mile away from the prez.

Look too Arabic, welcome to Gitmo.

Sure, the document is still there. But what does it mean in PATRIOT act America?

Piss in a jar, Patriot Act, and get behind the fence are not initiatives of the "people". They are against the "people". If the people no longer have power, we no longer have a democracy. Because, democracy by definition, is power to the people.

A minority, an "anti-democratic" minority, has taken over the power and have declared themselves the majority. With a mandate even! As if they speak for the "people". They have acquired enough sheeple under their tent that they can get 26% of them to the "polls" and declare themselves the victor on election day. An apathetic people have surrendered their democracy to an "anti-democraic" Party. It is nt democracy we need to fear - it is the anti-democracy...

If the people no longer have power, we no longer have a democracy. Because, democracy by definition, is power to the people.

No it isn't.

Democracy is majority rule and that means the biggest group gets the power, screw the smaller group.

It's that simple.

Right now, the only thing stopping the USA from becoming a theocracy is the bill of rights.

And consider the more liberal Europeans -- several of those countries have public funded churches! Germany is a good example.

No, it's not.

"Democracy is majority rule and that means the biggest group gets the power, screw the smaller group." ...

"Right now, the only thing stopping the USA from becoming a theocracy is the bill of rights."

Do you really think that little piece of paper called the Bill of Rights has been protecting you? It hasn't. It's the people that have stood behind that piece of paper. Up to this point, that has been a majority of Americans.

However, we now have a minority of anti-democratic neo-cons that have taken over this country and are preaching that they are now the "majority" and that they have a "mandate". They may have gotten more votes but that does not mean they have a "majority" or a "mandate". It means they have won a phony election and are using it to declare they speak for the people. They have stolen the "power" from the people. And they don't give a damn about that little piece of paper you think has been protecting you.

Do you really think that little piece of paper called the Bill of Rights has been protecting you? It hasn't. It's the people that have stood behind that piece of paper. Up to this point, that has been a majority of Americans.

Nope.

It is a minority of Americans -- a minority of very vigrous Americans willing to go far to protect their rights.

The proof is the flag burning amendment. A majority support it, yet we need an amendment to make law prohibiting flag burning because of first amendment concerns.

If what you said were true, there would be no need for an amendment.

The bill of rights works because there are angry people willing to defend their rights, the majority be damned.

Besides, I'm not sure a majority would support a "flag burning" amendment.

And it has been a responsible and wise judicial system that has protected the minority up to this point. The majority of people have trusted the decisions from the Courts, for the most part. However, the courts too, have now been taken over by the "anti-democratic" minority as well.

We are no longer a working democracy. We are a facade. No right of any minority is safe at this time in our history. And it's not democracy...

Look at the Ukraine, *that's* a Democracy.
The Bill of Rights is just an old scrap of Hemp.
It no longer is in force, or several members of the * admin would be in Leavenworth by now.

The will of the people has not been the government since 2000.
3 consecutive elections have been stolen, if you count Cleland.
What more evidence do we need?

Theo-fascism is our current form of Government.
I hope they get it over with and change the name to Jesusland.

because that would pull them down closer to the rest of us. They pay lip service to the concept of democracy but in practice they hate it and will do anything to stop it. To them, it is just as bad as communism.

no matter if it hurts.. They pretend to like "democracy" but it runs counter to everything they believe. Because the interests of the "people" are in contradiction to the "interests" of the wealthy, except when it comes time to fight and die for their right to continue to profit and grow wealthier. That's what the Republican Party stands for.

The people running the administration are not only opposed to democracy, and representative democracy is but one component of the ingenious system that the Constitution expresses. The Republican leadership is going after the judiciary next.

The point about the Bill of Rights is that our system puts some things out of the immediate reach of democracy, and for good reason. If more than half of the people wanted to strip the Constitutional protections for a minority and deprive them of their citizenship, should the will of the majority be allowed to prevail in that case?

The Bill of Rights protects the individual and minorities from the tyranny of the majority.

If they were able to do so, a majority of the voters could well decide tomorrow that homosexuality is a capital crime, or that we ought to nuke Iraq. Not a good idea.

Otherwise, great posts!



on edit - grammar correction

I cannot be convinced that America has become what we now see in power, the religious right and radicals. I still believe the "people" are the majority and that we do not have to fear the majority as much as a God-driven minority.

Although you and others are correct about the tyranny of the majority, I do not see that threat at this moment. I see a apathetic and withdrawn society that is permitting the loss of our democracy to a dedicated minority....a dangerous, dedicated minority.

"I cannot be convinced that America has become what we now see in power, the religious right and radicals."

I agree.

"I still believe the "people" are the majority and that we do not have to fear the majority as much as a God-driven minority."

Yes and no. On the one hand I think you are correct that a ruthless minority is advancing an agenda, that were it fully understood by the people, would be rejected. That minority, however, is being propelled along by some sentiments that may be held by the majority of the people. Sadly, I think that the majority wants to extract revenge on Arabs and Moslem people. The majority of people hold dangerous and erroneous views on a number of other issues right now, as well. Mostly this is fear and ignorance, and it is being translated into support for extremism.

"Although you and others are correct about the tyranny of the majority, I do not see that threat at this moment. I see a apathetic and withdrawn society that is permitting the loss of our democracy to a dedicated minority....a dangerous, dedicated minority."

That is a good analysis in my opinion. The threat, then, is a combination of a majority sentiment - apathy and withdrawal is how you describe it - and a minority agenda. When a majority goes along with and fails to challenge an extremist agenda, they may as well be overtly supporting it. Tyrants are clever at gaining the "support" from the public in this way. "We didn't know" is what so many German citizens said after the war. What they really mean is that the Nazis afforded them the luxury of being able to put their head in the sand and to plausibly pretend to not know. They could then tacitly support the tyrants without having to face or admit their support.

America is now putting its head in the sand and pretending to not see the war crimes taking place in Fallujah. So, in a way, the majority is supporting part of the minority agenda and the radical minority is pretending they have the support for their full agenda. i.e. mandate.

I wanted to make that point about direct democracy and the dangers that it represents. You are making so many great posts lately that I didn't want to rain on your parade. Keep going and don't pay too much attention to us critics in the peanut gallery!

and a very valid one also. However, I believe our threat is not with the majority at this point because I do not believe the present power structure is the majority. At least, I pray it is not. If it is, we are screwed.

By the way, your posts have been very thought-provoking.

kentuck

save a very few exceptions.

This link from globalresearch.ca illustates my point:

Link: http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/BAK411A.html

Happy Holiday

Wiley

by Bob Marley
:bounce:
:kick:

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There is no reason not to be optimistic. After all, we have the great leader, George W Bush, at the helm. By the way, what will be the signs if we lose our democracy?