Civic self care is an ongoing activity:
The hope of our people to be organizing for our economic and social well-being survives among a significant number of us. It took a turn for the worse when trade and worker unionists failed to teach their children of social organization and responsibility for self-governance. Educational institutions did not take up the slack nor did most other persons or institutions. Still with some knowledge of cooperation, some common sense, a bit of our history and our ability to listen, learn, and share, here we are.
Citizens:
Many members of unions and other citizens had not learned enough about our common law, our Constitution, and the power of democracy to take up their social and civic responsibility to care for their cities, states, nations as well as they might. Some even began to see their citizenship as a gift rather than as a responsibility and a self protection. Many of us to this day have an incomplete understanding of the basis of our history. The power of the jury was forgotten, as was the power of the public forum, dialogue, and organization.
My intention here is to speak to citizens in general and not just to union members. My excuse for having unionists on the mind is that historically they take a certain responsibility for governing themselves. And in what survives of our unions is archived some wisdom about citizens organizing and active democracy. Also with survival of some union there is a better chance of finding a more perfect union.
After WWII there seemed to be a decline in citizen organization, Men and women became less active in their clubs. Most clubs had taken some part in civic education and practice and did much good. Many members gained an understanding of the results of ongoing legislation. Some club member did a better job of educating one another and others about the politics of the land then did some unions.
Knowledge of aspects of democratic citizen organizing have been misplaced. Still, it can be found. It is not only to be found in union archives, but is also to be found, sometimes with difficulty, in most universities of the land. Libraries hold much good information and much, with some sorting, can be found on the www. Students of democracy and active citizenship have done important work in modernizing and updating the wisdom of governance of, by, and for the people. One large are of agreement centers on the fact that the less citizen activity there is in governance the less the existence of democracy. Another area of agreement is that the more citizens practice citizenship the more they learn of citizenship.
Useful Information:
Over the decades much of great value has been written about active citizenship, civic organization,and education for self governance. It is here for us to read.
By law you have the power to govern. People power is right now. We can learn to use it. From lack of use our right and our power can evaporate. If you are a reader please feel free to share that which you find out about how to do active citizenship, use our Constitution and Common Law, learning to govern ourselves, and like that. You can report or inform us in "comments" just below. You can even as questions or make comments there. I like to use my own name but you can use a pen name or avatar.
Back to unions. I think that they have some good examples of citizens taking responsibility for their own governance. I suspect that the practice of some unionism can lead to a more perfect union. There are some important union people who have done some important work about organizing for example. However there are philosophers, educators, historians, statesmen, and more who can inform us well. There ar those among us who can tells about them. With some careful sorting and discrimination we can find useful works online, on the www, which we can share and use to take better care of ourselves socially, civically, and in self-governance. We need to be courageous enough to begin to talk among ourselves about our common good.
Action:
You can practice here. For example, when you find information about people, persons, and individuals organizing democratically for their mutual good you can tell us about it here. You could so anonymously if you want to. When you find something amazing that we can lawfully do to take better care of ourselves you could tell us about it. This blog is about governance and we can share info about governance here.We can share info about social or political learning or teaching, or about interesting democratic mutual aid organizing. We can share interesting doings and activities. Grass roots doings can be interesting.
By searching this site you could find something interesting.
Thank you for the visit.
rcs