Toward Real Democracy

 When we don't use our governance methods we do not have them. We have declared republicanism and democracy as important ways of our governance. Let's begin to consider republicanism and democracy and how they can be used.

This is a quick and sketchy essay at beginning that consideration. So, this piece aims at beginning to clarify our meaning of republicanism and of democracy. Then to consider how they are used and how they are worked to our benefit.

        Participatory democracy is a phrase being used these days. I feel uncomfortable  saying that real democracy is participatory democracy because all democracy must be participatory. That is the word democracy itself means people themselves doing their governance. Once a greater percentage of americans were clear about that. Now in real life there is rarely either this or that, but more often a combination of a lot.

        Republicanism began much as a rejection of the present rule. The rule of the time was rule by monarchy and oligarchy. That was rule by king, nobility, and perhaps a growing merchant class. Than the question was about who should rule. Then as the word republican suggests, the answer was the people. That turned out to be a bit of a problem for those we have called our founding fathers. Perhaps there was a subconscious feeling around that it might be good to be ruled by our fathers. 

        This piece is directed to Americans and is about them doing more of their own governance. However, those of  you who are not U.S. citizens may find something of interest here, perhaps even something useful. Many of the forbearers of present Americans believed that they could take care of themselves together and by doing so could be the governors of themselves. Now numerous present day Americans are beginning to believe that they can revive that belief and forgotten knowledge. It is late for doing that, but I am sure that it is possible.

        When the United States was founded, mostly by Europeans, the concept of a republic had considerable popularity among them. Rule by a king and a hereditary nobility was no longer working well for them/The spread of reading and writing and the actual state of affairs had effected them. A significant portion of educated Europeans knew rather a lot about ancient Greek democratic governance and many thought it was a fine way for a populous to take care of itself.

        A great many of those who began to immigrate to what would become the United States and also to the rest of the Americas were not ready to be ruled to by kings and nobles. They had found that every king had behaved royally and not every noble behaved nobley.

        They got to the new land and found that kings were weak in sway and far away. Many felt that they could take care of themselves and often called that responsibility freedom. The question of how they would do that care taking and freedom, when raised, was seldom well answered. In the back of many minds the thought may have been that someone would take care of that. And they were not wrong. Someone always had, but that someone had not always been careful of everyone. A great many people had little knowledge of many of the factors of self rule and less practice. They had little idea of how to rule themselves together. They did know quite a bit about cooperation in a variety of situations and did have some notion that practice can perfect. 

        A few f them had begun to consider self governance in their present circumstances. They knew about cooperation, and somethings of the workings of the Roman Republic and democracy of ancient Greeks. They knew that few of immigrants had experience with government at state level.

        Naturally the idea of not being ruled by someone else led to the Idea of self rule. The concept of self rule led to some consideration of self-rule together. Thoughts of this sort began to circulate a bit among the general population on both sides of the Atlantic. These thoughts were current among those who would be called the founding fathers of the U.S. Why fathers? Why not patriots or men or just say founders. Is this a hint that many wanted to be taken care of? 

            The idea that rule by others was a problem was a very republican concept and many early Americans. Rule by us became a popular idea, but the nature of who "us" include was, was not always clear. Many said us was all of us, but few included the Chinese in that us at that time. How was this rule was to be done was not clear. It was to be popular rule and we just knew who was popular. I imagine that in early Greece early Greeks were popular. Among early colonial Spanish people it was to gente reason and not every every Spaniard and certainly not some ignorant Frenchman. French said ''us'' was to include every citizen. They knew that a born and bred Turk was not a likely French citizen. For the early greeks democratic rule was not easy, but who was to rule were Greek citizens and the nature of a Greek citizen was agreed on by nearly all Greeks.

        So, this governance deal was not easy to workout. You and I may come pretty close to agreeing who is an American citizen, but just how those should rule you and I or even with you and I could be a problem.

        Among our active ancestors, just before 1776 were some pretty thoughtful guys. Women were not yet consider as strong contenders for citizenship. Anyway some male contenders began to talk things over. Many of them held stronger than usual egalitarian ideas! And their idea of who could be a citizen and man who could speak, read, and write English and not a criminal was certainly a contender. They agreed that not every man who was a citizen was a good person to hold position of power in a new government. Still they thought it best that every citizen be able to participate. So they came to an idea which has been called representative democracy. It is probably not really close to the best idea, but it is still a good one.

            Every citizen could speak for laws, positions, and policies of government and vote for them. Positions in government were to be for limited time and the important and powerful positions were to be held by election by citizens. Good ideas for that time and place. But could every citizen come to any public office and the son or daughter come to any public office? It seems possible.

        

            So, a few men began to consider how to institute such governance in their time and place and the nature of potential citizens. They had the idea of  "representative democracy" in mind. They wanted the will of the people to be well represented. Their reasons for that are important and you can check them out elsewhere or we can review them here later if you so wish. Right now this piece has begun to feel too long for me to manage.

            Back to our theme. States were already being formed so there would be states in this new nation.There could be a senate with men to represent those states. Those men would be elected by the citizens of each state. The people would elect their representatives to express their will and the representatives would write up that will and enact it as the law of the land. A national president would be elected to administer those laws to see that they were followed as the peoples' representatives ordered.

            They began to create a written constitution of this organization of governance. That Constitution was put in effect and today it is still in effect with few modifications. It is still relatively short, but contains many important factors. Among those factors were those put in place to insure that to much power be accumulated in one sector. They wanted national power to be well shared so that the people were well represented and well served.

            Plans worked out pretty well.We had a written constitution which we could use to see how we were doing with our rules in our land. We began to teach our children about republican governance, democracy and our Constitution. Then after a time we began to quickly develop militarily and economically and were pleased, but not very vigilante. Then we began to move into a kind of imperialism which proved to be a poor partner for republicanism. Our population grew quickly, much of that growth was by immigration. 

            As a people we began to forget about our responsibility for taking care of one another politically and for working our Constitution. We began to teach our children, or have them taught, more about making money in certain ways and less about how to govern ourselves together. We mostly had ''good'' ideas for doing what we were doing, but we were losing control of our lives. Our doing did not help us work our republic or us our democracy.Then so of us got so nervous about our republic that we began to call it a democracy and that seemed to lead us to forget the nature of democracy and how to use democracy! I seems that we may be left with a dying Empire if we do not begin to practice appropriate governance. We know that governance has little to do with marching and demonstrating, and not much more with voting. For us it seems to be working the constitution of our republic in a democratic way together.

            We still have an idea that democracy is a good idea, as is republicanism. They are good ideas, but they are unless unless they are worked. They must be used to be useful. They must be used and they ought to be taught. There is much we can do now to take care of ourselves. We can make decisions about taking care of ourselves together. To do that it is best to be among those whom we trust and realize that there are groups worthy of trust. Communication is a key to doing that. Face to face talk is the most powerful communication for us. We can learn to better do that kind of communication. We can communicate with each other and dialogue among ourselves about what we have the will to do together. We can nurture that will in healthy ways.

        In our present government it is now easy to arrange to keep fairly good track of  our own representatives  collective and individual doings and also much of the doings of the rest of our government. We do need some organization as well as some modern technologies. We can learn and act together. There is too much for any one to do alone, but so what? There are enough of us to easily that which needs doing together. We are many. We can cooperate. We already know about co-operation and learn to practice more. Little by little we can learn to appropriately organize our doings. 

           We already have that which we need, take care of the business of taking care of ourselves. We can promptly know what our representatives are doing and to promptly give them instructions as what to do and not to do for us. With the modern technology at our disposal and our appropriate we can easily maintain close communication. Of course representatives will want to know that they are getting our support. They may also know that we are getting close to being able to represent ourselves. Also they know that they have a contract for only a couple of years at a time and may want to get back to their regular job.

            Still, for now, we need to arrange to give our representative abundant and appropriate support along with appropriate oversight. We are getting to know that there so many of us that no one person ever need to feel that they have too much to do. We will find ourselves learning by doing and by practicing our organization; and by becoming more aware of governance in our lives. We will need to practice communication skills and so maintain appropriate trust of fellow citizens. We will probably need to practice our co-operation skills and understanding of the organization close to us. Do not let me discourage you. There is virtually nothing which you really have to do, but much which you can do. Your governance activity is much like being empowered. Also you are the only one who can be you and you are an irreplaceable part of our taking care of ourselves just by being you. Better the best of you than the worst.

            Citizen Assemblies are a  good little example of doing much of what I am writing about. They are a real life demonstration of citizens co-operating to do some of their own governance. Citizen Assemblies are already one movement of effective citizen participation in their own governance. They once in a while seem much like an example of direct democracy. It is evident that these assemblies demonstrate how we can move toward active citizenship and toward the living conditions we desire. We can, as Daniel Stid has written, and I interpret here, bring true citizen perspectives to bear on policy making. We can refine our opinies through informed deliberations and judgements. Deliberations can be a kind of talking together which is much like thinking together.

            These assemblies are demonstrating in a relatively short time ordinary citizens are capable of learning to help their elected representative to help them. Relatively soon they can collectively learn to effectively remind their representatives of citizen needs and encourage them, daily if necessary, to address those needs. They can with some ease and persistence, improve their governance and directly help their representatives to do well. All there is to it is to do it together.

            Ordinary citizens are learning together to help their representatives to do that which they have been elected to do and to see it done or to know the reason why it is not done. Doing it together is the key. They learn to better work their government and we can too. They learn that it is their right and ability to make some changes or additions to the laws of the land. They learn that there are few laws against governance of the people, by the people, and for the people nor in their learning more of good governance and improved citizen activity as they practice their participation in governance of their nation, state, or county.

            Citizen Assemblies have worked out ways to move governments to actions congenial to their citizens. If Public Assemblies and citizen participation interests you or attracts you, you can check out their ways of working.You can check out much online. You can share that which you learn here when the urge strikes you.

            A Citizen Assembly is not the only way for us to work our governance and it is probably not the best way to do so. But, it is an excellent example of a way of doing so. You can find your own way to co-operative governance. Still, right now these Assemblies are worth looking into and learn something of how they work. Citizen Assemblies may be found in your country and online. They can be found in growing numbers in countries calling themselves republics.

            I tend to like co-operating with people who do their best work in clearly inclusive and democratic ways. However, even at my age, I can make some adaptations.

            I believe that this Citizen Assembly idea got started in England, spread to Ireland, then to France and beyond. Mr Stid, and important interpreter of the concept has written that "Ireland has set the pace" in the use of the Assemblies. Not all of the Assemblies are being used at the federal level yet. In the U.S., for example, they have been used at the state level, but mostly in an ad hoc sort of way. I this case I would like to see the organizations have some continuity, but that is not necessary for good work to be done.

            Well, that's about it for me for now. When you find info action related to improved citizen participation in governance, especially cooperative, democratic participation, please feel free to tell us about it. The Assembly way is not the only way. But it does seem that we may have matured enough to govern ourselves, to take care of ourselves together. It does seem time to begin the practice. When you tell me it is OK to publish that which you tell us about doings related to citizen participation we discuss ways of doings. Ways for citizens to democratically co-operate in governance are golden.

    

            Thank you for reading.

                                           Richard Sheehan

            

Adapt to Rapid Climate Change

      

We are responsible for us. We can decide to adapt to the present rapid climate changes or not. It is up to us. It seems to me a very good idea to decide to co-operate to adapt together. It seems a good opportunity to learn to do democracy,

Civics for the Brave and the Free

                             It seems worth repeating that civility is an important part of governance, civics, politics, society, and our daily lives.

We, and our governance, can also profit by our learning:

~ some collaborative leadership. 

~ about consensus building.

~ about a deeperlevel of tolerance.

~ about sources of conflict an cohesion.

~ how people fudamentally different from one another develop sensitivities which enable them to co-operate effectively.

We ar at our civic best when we:

~ are listening and hearing.

~ are working in partnership with others

~ lead by example.

~ have the courage to be appropriately humble.

~ are practicing productive democratic talk.

~ show up.

                            We all have some learning to do. I like to remember what my old aunt used to say, "By beginning, we are half way there."

                            Other saying worth rememberting are: Democracy breeds solidarity solidarity and justice. Democracy exists where and when it is being practiced. The practice of democracy is not difficult.

                                                                                                rcs

Through Active Citizenship: We Can Learn to Govern Ourselves

 Governance With RCS: Active Democracy or no Democracy

                Doings like active democracy and active citizenship have attracted many. At one time there was no need to use "active" in this context. Democracy and citizenship were known to be activities. Citizenship is the knowledge and skills for using one's duties and rights of governance to govern with one's fellow citizens. Democracy is citizens participate in governing themselves. No participation, no democracy.

                We all seem to be pretty much the same page as to the meaning of "active," that is: capable of functioning, causing action or change, participating an like that. Its about doing.

                I am not sure that we are on the same pages as to the meaning of democracy and citizenship. You may have an idea of the differences between republicanism and democracy. You probably have the idea that that citizenship is about the doings of a citizen. Rather than speculate about you it may be more useful for me to tell you my meanings and ideas. For example, a base meaning of democracy is, governance by the people. But for me the ideas and meanings of democracy form a long practiced philosophy of freedom, equity, and extended family, but it needs to be remembered that it is a doing. That means that the job of governing is done, in a lively way, by the people.    

                I feel concern at this moment that after presenting over 60 essays on this website, I have not clarified much of the vocabulary dealing with political self care. I intend to try to put more thought an effort into making the meanings of the vocabulary I use more abundantly clear.

                You can ask me to clarify my meanings in the "comments" section below.

                "Governance" is a word that I know I have not clarified, perhaps because I am not as clear about its meaning as I hope to be.

                I see governance as the activity of a governor. Like the governor of an engine or a motor acts to moderate that motor's speed. So, it is about governing and government. Governance is about the nature of governing and government. For example and individual person can take responsibility for her life, so, she is interested in self-governance. Part of her way of governance maybe to claim responsibility for her own duties and rights. You may be the boss and governor of yourself. Theocracy, autocracy are ways of governance. Okay, it is much like governing, but to me governance is more personal. I am not doing this as well as I hoped I would. Let me give it another try. As a citizen of a democracy or republic I have duties and rights, and the responsibility for claiming them is part of my governance of my nation and of myself. OMG, I hope I can do better at defining the rest of the pertinent vocabulary.

                OK. onward. "Citizenship" is the practice of the skills of governance in a state as a citizen of the state. Active citizenship is practicing and using those skills in a lively manner. Citizenship is a legal position having a set of rules and laws agreed on to regulate your behavior. In a democracy you have the duty and right to maintain or to changes those rules and laws. The ways of doing so may be defined by the laws of your land. The rules and laws nor their change or maintenance need be burdensome because you share that job with fellow citizens. However, not claiming your rights and duties can lead to major problems which includes losing them and your citizenship. Your active claim is important. Not claiming ones rights and duties does lead to your loss, to your great loss. You can lose rights, liberty, freedom, citizenship in the state, happiness, state and life. It also leads to similar losses by your family members, friends, and fellow citizens. Of course the loss of your state can lead to the loss of the power of democracy for future generations. When not s very many of us fail to claim our rights and duties as active citizens our state moves toward failure.

                In a great many states a citizen is free to lobby another citizen. "Lobby" is not a legal term. In definition it could be the practice of doing what on can to persuade others as might a teacher or preacher. However, it also refers to persuading the citizens of your town to act in a certain way; like rerouting the traffic around your school to prevent your children being struck by a vehicle. I will add that lobbing is much like milk, it can be sweet or sour, or even change its state and become cheesy, So there is honorable lobbying, but it is not always so. Much like modern politics it is often honorable, but it in some cases it is not.

                Lobbying can be a sort of encouragement For example, you could try to persuade fellow citizens to co-operate to help each other to practice teaching one another to practice teaching each other about active democracy, active citizenship, organizing, and governance. Trying to get your high school board to to co-operate in opening and adult night school class in active citizenship could be another example of lobbing.

                There is among us, a lack of knowledge of politics, and that is not good. Some think "politics" is a bad word and that is not useful. Politics is the practice of governance, governing, and government. It can even refer to the correct practice of co-operation. It can also refer to the less than beautiful activity of a professional politician. Some very correct actions of a politician can seem less than beautiful, and still an honorable act and good for the nation. Politics is a name for the way we co-operate to govern ourselves. Like any job or duty, it can be well done, poorly done, or worse. Check online and in your dictionary for the definitions for "politics" and choose the best that you find and that will come close to the way I usually use that word here.

                I would be pleased and proud to be lobbied to be part of a group dedicated to helping one another to learn the nature of doing citizenship, governance, and democracy. I such a group I could learn appropriate practice for being a free and useful citizen of my neighborhood, city, town, county, state, country, and nation. It seems good to take care of our polity together.

                As an America, as a citizen of the United States, I would like to learn, with others, about our Constitution and how to use it democratically. Lately I have been thinking about being an effective citizen at the national level. However, it seems very sensible to find out how to use democracy more effectively at the town or county level as well. By showing up at the meetings of the local Green Party, I bet  I could learn more about governance at both national and and local level. I believe that attending meetings, near me, with 7 or 11 others, to learn more about our Constitution and how to use it in our republic could be instructive and satisfying. Just practicing democracy in a group may be very useful.

                I find myself less interested in parties and candidates these days and more interested in platforms and planks. I find it pleasant to know that most of the 20 or so national parties in the U.S. still have planks and platforms. One can still search for planks that relate to that which one finds most appropriate and important at this point in history. If I were searching through planks right now I would be on the lookout for ones related to citizen education in governance or those which supported citizen participation and education in democratic governance. Tomorrow I may look for planks relating to adapting to climate change.

                We can use all the help we can get, but we don't have to have any help. We can teach one another as we please. When we want to we can practice what we learn as we learn. For example, as we taught each other, we could consider how we could best support a bill that interested us all. By doing so we might be able to help our county, state, and country. Wonderful. Or we might decide not to do that until we have learned more and were more sure of our common goals. All helps us with our goals of learning. We could be learning and practicing democratic governance. One day we might be presenting our own bill.

                We can learn a lot about our mutual governance and we can help each other to practice that which we learn. I have voted, read the newspapers, listened to the news and watched it on TV. I have participated  a political campaigns and attended  political meetings. And I still have a very great deal to learn.

                Lately I have been learning more about active citizenship and active democracy my myself. I believe that I could learn better and more in a self teaching group of citizens interested, say, in active democracy. I believe that members of such a group can learn more, do more. and find more satisfaction than we can as individuals. Democratic governance is a matter of individuals co-operating, and that process seems best learned in co-operating democratic group. 

                I sure don't want to do governance until I drop. There are ways of doing enough without doing that which feels like too much. One great thing about democracy is that the more the participation the merrier. The potential for abundant help in democracy is great, there is a place for everyone. There are many active citizens and more learning how they can be active. There is a potential for many, many more active citizens. Among citizens there are many, skills, interests, and abilities. There are also many citizens, old, medium, young, and ancient ready, willing, and able to learn. So, there is little reason that anyone need feel that they have too much to do. It's legal to kick back with a beer in front of the TV. There is room to keep a home, a job, and a whole life and still take care of our own governance. It is great that there are so many of us to do the the jobs and tasks of self-governance(citizenship).

                One can avoid the tasks which one likes least and eliminate the tasks that interest one least. Lately I am interested much less in political parties and candidates. I believe that there are many citizens willing to learn more about the doings of parties and candidates and there are plenty of other citizens willing to help them. We could be a bit more organized to provide that help. Still, I do not have to feel guilty about being less active in that area. There are many other areas in which to practice my citizenship. You and I are free to practice our citizenship were we will, and every citizen is free to practice his or her citizenship where they will. It may be useful to remember that we have decided on certain rules for that practice. Its also fair to remember that we may agree to discuss those rules and to change them.

                An important activity of citizenship, and of much else, is showing up. There are many opportunities for showing up. Voting and public demonstrations are two of them. Sharing information about important issues is another. Helping a group a group assemble information for a Bill is still another. Yet another is co-operating in the resolution and implementation of a public issue. Suggest some more opportunities to participate in "comments." There are many ways to co-operate to keep your country operating well. It's good to remember that ignorance of the law is seldom a good excuse for your transgression of it.

                Some learning often helps to better the quality of the doing of that which needs doing. If you are willing to teach you might do well to learn to teach "How to do citizenship in a democracy."

                There is a limited amount that one can or wants to do. Nearly everyone has some ability to co-operate. Find a place you feel you could co-operate and show up. I have heard it said that a way not to "spread yourself too thin" is to think globally and act locally. I am not sure how that works, but it does sound good. Still, it sure does not have to be the way of everyone. It does seem to help to keep your eyes, ears, and mind open to a good place for you to show up and co-operate. Its okay to make a mistake we are practicing. Still, as a surgeon knows in his practice, mistakes can be troublesome.

                Showing up with the purpose of understanding seems a good idea. I can do that. I may be slow to learn, but my purpose is good.  I can show-up where others are doing active citizenship democratically. Personally I find listening at a school-board meeting more interesting than hanging out at my polling place. Thank goodness that we do not all have the same likes and dislikes. Still, duties exist.

                Some find a city council meeting interesting. Finding out where a given councilman likes to spend money available to the council, might keep me listening for two meetings in a row. Political party meetings could be worth showing up at. The right Green Party meeting might show party members getting things done in an interesting way. Listening to those where they are co-operating to do something about an important social issue could interest one so much that one would like to do more than listen.  

                Listening does not interest many forever, but it is often best to listen and understand enough to keep one's foot out of one's mouth before speaking much. So it is best to listen to see how active citizenship is being practiced in a given situation. By listening you may come to understand how active citizenship, and more, is practiced there.

                We know something about co-operation and co-operating. Co-operating is a lot. It is useful and important, it is not all of citizenship and governance. It is an important step toward and during social and social and political organization. It is also a step toward well practiced governance. We need not be bored by believing we know everything or even enough. Let learning happen. Co-operate with that happening.

                There are interesting skills to develop. Along with citizenship skills, we can upgrade individual self-care skills. We can also up-grade our oral communication skills. All are important in a fast changing world. The same skills are adaptive to fast changing climate which is becoming less gentle.

                So, practicing care of ourselves as individuals and as part of and adaptive polity is important to effective citizenship. Democratic citizenship is less likely to break in really tough times. Health care, public and individual is also important for dealing with health problems coming with the expected Earth changes. You may find that taking part in democratic conversation and dialogue can be a practical and fun way to move into our "new" reality.  

                It seems time to consider how to increase our understanding of and skills in governance. We are likely to need those skills more urgently soon. We need them as members of a nation, of a society, of an organization, of a group, and as individuals. We can learn much from each other, from experience and with practice. A dialogue group can help and you could find some help through exploration of this web site. Reading could help. We can prepare by showing-up with a will to co-operate. There is a big variety of useful, interesting, and fun doings and happenings to come to a better understanding of. Your participation and help will be valuable. The doings may include the use of a leadership skill, they may include active democracy, the co-operation of many may become more important. No one needs to know it all, they can't, but all of us can benefit by developing more than one new skill and understanding to get us through the next couple of decades.

                Some of us may want to better understand the doings, intentions, and practices of our actual governments. We not only need to govern ourselves, but also a town, a county, a neighborhood, or a survival group as a co-operating participant. Hopefully some of us will find it interesting and satisfying to organize a meeting, to clarify and promote an important issue, to show how to use democracy, and to check out alternatives. 

                We may be fewer with much to learn. The participation and co-operation of more may be vital. Democracy can keep more of us involved in the work that needs to be done and more learning how to to that work effectively. Some say that in a democracy no one is to blame, and all are responsible.

                Please remember that you can share any information you find about active democracy, active citizenship, productive dialogue  or adapting to our world and will be appreciated. Use the "comments" app. I will try to pass things on. Also please help me to correct my errors on this site. I also accept suggestions(nice ones)for improving my content.

                Healthy citizenship and working groups are good for us.

                Does "self-governance" sound too selfish?

                I am among those human beings who believe that we have the right to accept responsibility for governing ourselves. We claim the right of self-governance. We have the right to govern our minds and bodies. That right may include a great deal more. It may include sharing governance of our family, our tribe, our body politic, our town, our government.

            This belief extends to some responsibility to share in governance and care for our universe, galaxy, solar system, Earth, world, nation, country, city, economy, health, education, culture, group, and more.  

            I cannot do much alone, but I can co-operate. I believe that it is fine, good,  fair, and just that others claim their responsibility and right to do the same. Self-governance has been important to many who believe that it is important for our mental and physical health. They claim responsibility for their collective and individual lives.

            We do not have to do more than we can. A good start is arranging to show up. It is a good thing that we are so many. There are enough of us to do a big job well and still take time to "kick back" relax and enjoy.

                       

                Thank you for reading.

 

 

                                                                 Richard

                                             

We Can Do Democracy

 Governance With RCS: YouTube tells that I cannot show this video with  R. Nadar in Colombia.

                

             It seems that someone belives we are not all ready to practice self-governance. They are probably right.

 I'll repeat what I had to some time ago about this nice little video:

                Forty years of lack of practice are resulting in loss of our hard one democracy. We have passed our governance into the hands of others and now we are passing into superfluoueness. Do we believe ourselves useless?

                I suggested to U.S. citizens that a reread of Our Declaration of Indepence may be useful. When we do not use it we lose it.

                Nadar is reminding us of that which we can do. Listen carefully for what can be done. He says that it takes only about 1% of us to be strongly effective an I believe that he is correct. However, if we will not teach 20% of us to do democracy we may not deserve it.

                We can learn to do it by doing it, has been said. I have heard it said that "practice makes perfect."  I do not believe that; however, from experience, I know it helps. Who has told us the meaning of democracy and how we can work it? Know matter, we can find out for ourselves.

                We already know something about co-operation, and some of us have usefuk ideas about democratic organization. We have begun on the way to taking care of ourselves and that is the way of self-governance. 

                We can learn how to more effectively co-operate and organize. Some of our grand- parents and great grandparents did. 

                Some of our youth have good ideas of freedom: freedom to claim duties, freedom to claim rights, freedom to claim free communication, free elections, and more. And they already know that very little comes to us without a cost.

                Check the meaning of superfluous and of democracy.

                                                                                                                    by Richard