How to promote Democracy (1)
Democracy is not for everyone, everywhere, at anytime. Winston Churchill said about democracy: "The worst political system yet devised, except for all the others".
Someone else wrote: "Dictatorship could be the best system. The problem is to find a good permanent dictator"
Like Respect (see our previous article), we can not imposed a democratic system on people. We can not sell it either. In several countries, the access to education, health system, culture, security, family and social values, are more important than the right to vote.
Democracy should not be done overnight; it needs an adequate and timely transition. A serious and sincere religious conversion requires time and exchange of thoughts, with examples.
According to several philosophers/thinkers of ancient Greece, a well-managed nation is our greatest safeguard. When the State is in healthy condition, all things prosper. When it is corrupt, all things go to ruin. Welfare of the Nation and welfare of the People, were inseparable.
In a real democracy, we assist to a free exchange of obligations between the citizens and the State. The State helps to support the citizens; the citizens help to support the State.
Several so-called democratic countries would seriously fail on that assumption, and should surely not lecture other governments.
Ideals of justice and equality for everyone, are a too important task to be left to politicians. It can only be achieved through ordinary people. The laws should be made collectively, not by small groups protecting their own interests.
A good dictator or totalitarian leader or military ruler, understand the need to protect the rights of minorities, and assure them a fair treatment. Not all democratic leaders have yet applied this basic principle of justice, or are simply not interested.
Democracy should be in the hands of the many, not of the few; the power should be shared by all the people, not just the affluent (either by money, religion, contacts). If not, we risk having a democratic dictator using the democratic rules and weaknesses, for governing to the benefits of his entourage.
It is undemocratic to promote aspects that appeal to a certain groups, while resenting other rules which restraint the said groups. Democracy is more than a form of government. It is a kind of society, selected or endured by a
majority....voters or not.
What are the real benefits in having millions of ignorant voters? Are we promoting the cause of democracy when leaders are selected according to the best advertising or negative campaign? When laws are made by pressure from lobbyists? When votes are not counted? Is it so hard to understand and realize that, perhaps, perhaps, well educated citizens from other countries, are not so impressed?
Robert Barro, economist at Harvard University, believes that the key contributions a government can make, toward economic growth are: education + healthcare + birth control + elimination of non-productive government expenditures + enforcing the rule of law + keeping a low inflation.
We all know (or should know) the requirements for prosperity: economic freedom and property rights.
Property Rights provide a security and reward for hard work, or previous achievements. Economic Freedom reduces the need of government intervention, lowers the cost of social services, gives more power and independence to a larger segment of the population.
Economic Freedom creates a series of political freedoms......which become the base of democracy, a better democracy, a real democracy for all the people, not the few.
A good dictator will understand the requirement to improve the needs of the majority. A good leader in a democratic system must also apply this basic rule, if not, he will be voted out....eventually.
Next week, in our part 2 of How to promote Democracy: "Let's be Serious and Smart with Cuba & Latin America. How can we afford wasting almost $100 million a year for a low-class propaganda, antagonize 500 million Latino Americans, and have the world laughing at us?" Enough is enough.
The Facilitator.
N.B. Our thanks to New York Times for publishing an example with: "Don't Force Democracy in Burma", as we were ending this article. I guess a great book to read: "The River of Lost Footsteps: History of Burma" by Thant Myint-U, the author.
Someone else wrote: "Dictatorship could be the best system. The problem is to find a good permanent dictator"
Like Respect (see our previous article), we can not imposed a democratic system on people. We can not sell it either. In several countries, the access to education, health system, culture, security, family and social values, are more important than the right to vote.
Democracy should not be done overnight; it needs an adequate and timely transition. A serious and sincere religious conversion requires time and exchange of thoughts, with examples.
According to several philosophers/thinkers of ancient Greece, a well-managed nation is our greatest safeguard. When the State is in healthy condition, all things prosper. When it is corrupt, all things go to ruin. Welfare of the Nation and welfare of the People, were inseparable.
In a real democracy, we assist to a free exchange of obligations between the citizens and the State. The State helps to support the citizens; the citizens help to support the State.
Several so-called democratic countries would seriously fail on that assumption, and should surely not lecture other governments.
Ideals of justice and equality for everyone, are a too important task to be left to politicians. It can only be achieved through ordinary people. The laws should be made collectively, not by small groups protecting their own interests.
A good dictator or totalitarian leader or military ruler, understand the need to protect the rights of minorities, and assure them a fair treatment. Not all democratic leaders have yet applied this basic principle of justice, or are simply not interested.
Democracy should be in the hands of the many, not of the few; the power should be shared by all the people, not just the affluent (either by money, religion, contacts). If not, we risk having a democratic dictator using the democratic rules and weaknesses, for governing to the benefits of his entourage.
It is undemocratic to promote aspects that appeal to a certain groups, while resenting other rules which restraint the said groups. Democracy is more than a form of government. It is a kind of society, selected or endured by a
majority....voters or not.
What are the real benefits in having millions of ignorant voters? Are we promoting the cause of democracy when leaders are selected according to the best advertising or negative campaign? When laws are made by pressure from lobbyists? When votes are not counted? Is it so hard to understand and realize that, perhaps, perhaps, well educated citizens from other countries, are not so impressed?
Robert Barro, economist at Harvard University, believes that the key contributions a government can make, toward economic growth are: education + healthcare + birth control + elimination of non-productive government expenditures + enforcing the rule of law + keeping a low inflation.
We all know (or should know) the requirements for prosperity: economic freedom and property rights.
Property Rights provide a security and reward for hard work, or previous achievements. Economic Freedom reduces the need of government intervention, lowers the cost of social services, gives more power and independence to a larger segment of the population.
Economic Freedom creates a series of political freedoms......which become the base of democracy, a better democracy, a real democracy for all the people, not the few.
A good dictator will understand the requirement to improve the needs of the majority. A good leader in a democratic system must also apply this basic rule, if not, he will be voted out....eventually.
Next week, in our part 2 of How to promote Democracy: "Let's be Serious and Smart with Cuba & Latin America. How can we afford wasting almost $100 million a year for a low-class propaganda, antagonize 500 million Latino Americans, and have the world laughing at us?" Enough is enough.
The Facilitator.
N.B. Our thanks to New York Times for publishing an example with: "Don't Force Democracy in Burma", as we were ending this article. I guess a great book to read: "The River of Lost Footsteps: History of Burma" by Thant Myint-U, the author.
posted by The Facilitator @ 2:03 PM
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