Free, Democratic, and Inclusive

 History With RCS: Cossack, Ukrainian, and Free

 

                Cossacks have been free men and democratic. They have only been known to history since about 650 AD. They have been active in self-governing communities for well over a thousand years. They have been open, inclusive, with a Slavic bent. They knew a world from Siberia to Lithuania and up and down for many years, but were drawn to a certain land.

                The Ukrainian Cossack State was formed in about 1650 in what is now central Ukraine. Their leaders were elected.

                Through the years they have been few. Democracy is not easy. They experienced much, and stayed free among strong neighbors such as Poland, Russia, and Lithuania. Among such neighbors they continued to show a strong will for self-governance.

                They formed the Ukrainian Peoples Republic in 1917 to 1921, the western Ukrainian Peoples Republic 1918 to 1919, and the Ukrainian Peoples Republic in exile  from 1920 to 1992.

                They were among the very first members of the Soviet Union with its promise of self-governing citizens. They may have been the first to leave that Union when it showed little will to self-governing citizenship.

                They were among the charter members of the United Nations with its promise of a chance for peace and freedom. They have not given up on their fellow members yet. 

                Ah, yes, I believe that at the breakup of the Soviet Union the were left with one of the greatest stock of atomic weapons on Earth and gave up that stock to the U.N.

                They have been few and still are. They are still a mixture of races, nationalities, and religions. They are a free democratic people self selected from that mixture.

                We might mention that while all this was going on they, with the help of a few viking Norsemen, created Russia. Oh, and they had a modern republic type written constitution in 1710.

                I believe that a history of the cultures most effecting these people could be traced back another 4,000 years. However, before about 650 AD they were little recognized in history as a discrete people. Throughout perhaps a thousand years of their history they stayed freer, more democratic, and inclusive than most. They have had to defend themselves and they have. They have also kept the hope and faith that they could live a free people among free people. They have  seen inclusiveness, freedom, and democracy disappear like smoke again and again. Still they hold a vision of that freedom and self governance closer and dearer than do most.

               Please feel free to correct this work or add to it in the "comments" section below or just to click on a social media button just below.

                Ukraine. 

                Thank you for reading.

 

                                                                                    rcs

 

Public Fora

 Governance With RCS: A public location dedicated to free speech including speech on important affairs.

            It seems to me that many geographical communities and perhaps neighborhoods could benefit from a physical forum. A place especially designed in which to freely talk about matters of public interest. It ought to be a place that small crowds and smaller groups could be addressed and perhaps ranted to about about politics, religion, and sex. It could also have space and time for conversation on more important affairs. Space for free tutoring or teaching might find a place and be of benefit in such a place.

            It could be a space in which to learn free speech. Really true free speech.

            I would attend if none of it were amplified.


                                                                                by Richard Sheehan

 

To Be Socially Active and Political Active

Governance With RCS: To Be A Participatory democrat

     

 

It is fair and useful to....

Show up. 

Speak up.

Frame the discussion.

 

Name the problem.

 

Team up.

 

Find a partner.

                                                            by Richard Sheehan

 

American Mythology and the Loss of Democracy

Governance With RCS: It's hard to lose democracy, but it can get very rusty from lack of practice.               

             Decades of lack of practice are resulting in a loss of our hard won democracy. We are governed by others and are now on our way to passing into superfluousness. 

            Read our Declaration of Independence. When we don't use it, we lose it.

            Nader is reminding us of that which we can do. Listen carefully for what can be done. 

            Also he says that it takes only about 1% of us to be strongly effective. 20% is much better.

            We can learn to do it by doing it.

            We must learn more about cooperation and organization. 

            We must learn how to more effectively cooperate and organize. 

            We may also benefit from reconsidering the nature of freedom, as in free press, free communication, free elections, freedom of privacy and more about free men and women.  

 

            Without active citizenship and active self-governance we become useless.

            Do you remember what superfluousness means?

                                                                    by Richard

Senator Sanders

Governance With RCS: Senator Sanders:
 

The two parties we have known and loved are about gone.

It is time for a new party with planks and a platform, and active members we can be proud of.

We can attract citizens from all parties and from no party.  A big place for the Green Party within our fresh new party might be good.

We could ask everyone to help us find an appropriate new name.

We can do what we can for the next elections, but build a decade long teach-in for the effective citizenship of  a grand number of  fresh faces, minds, spirits, and hearts.

You have begun the great work of educating youth for citizenship, and it is wonderful work that will not be completed in our lifetime.

Thank you for your life of grand service past, present, and future.  




                                                                                                by Richard
 

Socially or Politically Active

Governance With RCS: To Be A Participatory democrat

     

 

It is fair and useful to....

Show up.

 

Speak up.

 

Frame the discussion.

 

Name the problem.

 

Team up.

 

Find a partner.

                                                                        by Richard Sheehan

 

Union Now

 Governance With RCS: Stand United

How shall we find a more perfect union  now?

How shall we form a more perfect union now?

How shall we have a more perfect union now.

 

 

                                                                                                rcs

 

A Democratic Meeting

 Governance With RCS: Hints about the nature of a democratic meeting

         

Some hints for recognizing a democratic meeting:

            As you look over the hints below you may find it useful to keep in mind that all democracy is participatory and that each such meeting can be a powerful learning experience for those who attend. For example, some participants may be learning intrinsic rules for effective and just communication. 

On to the hints. A meeting is more democratic the more it is:

~ of, by, and for the participants.

~ free from outside powers.

~ autonomous.

~ designed and redesigned  to meet the needs of participants.

~ as inclusive as reasonable.

~ an important listening experience for the participants.

~ a place where leadership roles are of wide participation and kept to a minimum. 

~ a "teach in" and an informing experience.

~ often more for understanding and less for decisions.

~ less authoritarian and hierarchical and more horizontal and egalitarian.

~ a time for thinking together.

~ a time when your comments are best addressed to the group as a whole.

~ a time to practice good manners and honesty.

~ held in a neutral space.

Other things that can happen at a meeting, democratic or not:

~ Politics may be being practiced.

~ Some may be consciously practicing dialogue skills, methods, and techniques. 

~ Some are finding that their respect and courtesy  are good for them and others.

~ It is held in a safe place.

~ Some participants may be increasing their understanding if the vocabulary of the business and hand.

            Hope these words have proven more more orienting than dis orienting.

            There is a great happening at any meeting. People showed up!

            Thank you for reading. Show up again and explore ways of searching this blog.

                                                                bye for now,

                                                              rcs

 

Civic Power

Governance With RCS: The neat workings of democratic power.                                                                   

We have a lot to learn, but it is not hard stuff. There is a lot of it. The following video provides us with a starting framework for keep that which we learn usefully arranged.

Thank you wonderful You Tube.

 

Selected for you by Richard Sheehan

Your Group, Yourself

Governance With RCS, groups: participation in a group is an important step toward effective  civic participation.   

                You can learn a lot about yourself  by participating in a group. You can practice observing yourself as you participate. You can learn much by observing other members. In a group you can begin the valuable potentials of a group.

                One of the prime injunctions of wisdom teachings has been "Know thyself." 

                Surely an important part of being includes learning. Learning about the world around us seems an important move toward self knowledge. I believe that learning about groups is an important part of learning about the world around us. 

                Participation in a group is a learning experience. That learning and that experience will be of varying quality. Much of such learning can lead to knowledge of self. Some groups are more interesting  and useful than others. Some groups may be better for you than those which seems to suit your present personality.

                A high level of regular participation by members has been important for a group's effectiveness and longevity.  We may call an effective and long lived group an organization. In such an organization it may b vital that each member know that she(or he)has an important job or place in it. A group being a practicing participatory democracy tends to increase the level of group participation.

                Get a group or organization.   Enjoy it's power and your growth.

To analyze your organization, to know it better, and to participate more effectively in it, you and a friend may take some of the actions suggested below:

~ Find out who has the authority to implement your organizational plans.
~ Know the action plan for for the long range funding of your organization.
~ Find out who is involved in developing your strategic plan.
~ Know your membership trends.
~ Consider the nature of your organization's benefits.
~ Know who is doing the bulk of the work to accomplish the goals of the organization.
~ Know what people do the work. Where are they? Identify them.
~ Make sure you know the engines of your organization.

You might also look for answers to the following questions about your organization and about your self:

~ What questions do you have about your organization and your membership in it?
~ How will you get answers to those questions?
~ What will you do about your questions and answers?
~ What makes it or you operate
~ What motivates you and other members?

                Enjoy your growing power and that of your organization! And, learn more about you!

                Thank you for reading.


                                                                        

 

                                                                                         by Richard Sheehan

 

Civics for the Brave and the Free

Governance With RCS: Try it where you live. Here among these governance blogs are two posts similar to this one: Civics for the Free and the Brave; Civics for the Free and the Brave (1)

It is useful to remember that civility is an important part of  effective civics and politics.

We can benefit and profit by leaning:
~ more of "civility."
~ some collaborative leadership.
~ about consensus building.
~ a deeper level of tolerance.
~ about sources of conflict.
~ how people who are fundamentally different from one another can develop sensitivities that will enable them to get along. 

We are at our civic best when we:

~ are listening.
~ are working in partnership with others.
~ lead by example.
~ have the courage to be appropriately humble.

Learn, educate yourself, find out what others have to say, organize, plan,
act.

We have a lot to learn. My old aunt  said that by beginning  we are halfway there. After that, one does one's best to keep on keeping on.


                                                                                by Richard Sheehan




 

Look at the Parties and Find Platforms

Governance With RCS: "A party|" sound to good to be true. Perhaps we can party enough to learn enough to change the nature of parties.

 Let's have a party:

                Or, let's have a platform. Or, let's have a plank. "A party" sounds most attractive, but I have reason to consider a plank first and we can find planks in platforms.

                The kind of plank I am considering is political. is the name given to fundamental parts of a political platform. Political party platforms are made  up of planks. This kind of plank does not come from a tree, but rather from the minds of men and women.  We can shape one, or more.

                We have some ideas about the nature of a political party.  Historically each person running for political office  usually had a platform much like the platform of his party. So we know that a platform is what a person running for office stood on. I Great Britain, I believe, stood for office rather than running for office as one does in the US. A platform was once more about what party stood for rather than stood on. A party and it's platform may be much about wants, interests, needs, desires, values, and even philosophy of citizens, the men and women of the nation.

So, parties had platforms. An important to those platforms were its planks.  Each plank was likely to represent a specific want, interest need, etc.

                Right now I a less interested in specific candidates, elections, or parties and am more interested in the specifics the platform they stand on. The specifics are best found in the planks.

                So, I am interested in platforms and the planks of those platforms, I am interested in specific planks and sets of planks one can stand on and for. 
 

                I want a solid plank I can work on and see implemented in our nation.  I am interested in a plank I can be proud to stand up for. I am interested in a plank which represents real and specific values and interests in an understandable and attractive way.

*******************************************************************

                First we form and find some great planks. With them we can make a great platform.  On that great platform can stand a great (new) party.  A party to be proud of.

                Heaven forbid that other parties should copy a plank of ours. ha, ha.

                We can also promote our favorite planks directly to citizens with never having a party except like ones to celebrate our success, our birthdays, and our favorite holidays. 

                Thanks for reading.

                Comment to us about the content of this post, whenever you like.




                                                                                   by Richard Sheehan

Treaties 0.00

 Governance With RCS: Sorry, 0.00 seems to imply a university remedial class. This little piece does not begin to reach that level. Still it does seem important to me.

 

When a treaty is secrete from us, can it be ours?

Who will begin to teach me the nature of some of our most important treaties?

What are their names?

What has been agreed on?

In whose name are they signed? (ours?)

                I expect to write more about treaties one of these days and may have already posted more than posted others. On History With RCS?


by Richard
f

 

 

 

 

 

People Power Plus

 Governance With RCS: People Power: Change is important.  Effective social doings call for communal knowledge, collective understanding.

 

                I find that when we use the terms "people power" or "power to the people" that we often have a fuzzy understanding of the concept involved. This unclear understanding can be of tragic danger to a people. At times, these phrases seem to have been a call to revolution. From time to time that call has been answered with thought to the fact that revolutions are unpleasant for many and that their aftermath is often long suffering.

                Change is. It is important and necessary, often pleasant and healthy, and seldom revolting. 

                In revolution there is too often too little planning and agreement among us for what is to come next. With revolution comes the need to clean up the nasty mess it causes. after the clean up, is the need to build the new order. That need calls for the common understanding of the plan for doing that building. People are often left with no agreed upon plan and few resources; they are at a loss for what to do!

                Revolution can turn out to be repugnant, revolting, sickening, and deadly for too many. A high cost. Revolution has seldom been a good plan. It has sometimes been worse than no plan.

                When we want "what is to come next" to be better than what we have now deserves some thought. We need to consider carefully what it is that we want and are out alternatives for getting it. At the very least, we need to consider that much. To be a "we" we need to agree, we need a common understanding of the nature of our common want. We need to carefully consider our alternatives and choose one as our agreed on common way forward. That way may or not be revolution.  

                We see change; happening is change and doing is change. Doing is less frequent. Doing is done on purpose, it is done consciously. It takes effort to learn to do effectively. We do learn to do effectively and we can learn from our doing. observation helps. Its good to know that we do learn.

                For long, many Americans many Americans have been pleased to vote and to "throw the rascals out" when our representatives displeased us. We used our vote to do that. We have begun to learn that voting is not enough. We have been slow to provide candidates to vote for.We have been slow to take part in the nomination process. We have  organized to do so from time to time, but have failed to teach our children how to do so. We have proven to be to easy to disorganize. Some of us are practicing organization again, but we have forgotten many of the basics. We still have not lost all of our co-operation skills.

                We see that there seem to be plenty of "new rascals" to take place of the "old rascals." Too many of us are unsure of what to do about that an to be unsure of why that happens. 

                The designers of our Constitution knew a lot about the whats and whys of governance. They also paid a lot of attention to the  hows of governance. They condensed much of what they learned and knew into the Constitution we adopted as our Constitution. Some of us participated in that process and learned that the key to working the Constitution was participation. Many wise men over a couple of hundred years admired that document as a practical and beautiful way for us to learn to govern ourselves by practicing the ways it laid out. They saw it as a way to much more. For example: as a way to democracy and a way to adaptive governance. 

                The people of Venezuela seem to have found that voting is not enough and not only "threw the rascals out" but also "threw the baby out with its wash water." They let themselves get so exasperated that they threw out to much of the old with little consideration how they would institute the new they would need.

                I have some memory of the overthrow of the U.S. surrogate leadership in the in the Philippines. The people of those islands decided it was time for a change and chased our man, Marcos, out to U.S. shores. A change was made, but the Philippine people were not prepared to handle the results and had not agreed on useful alternatives. The results are history.

                Those 1980s happenings in the Philippines provided little learning for most of those effected. A certain few Americans gained some advantage. Most Americans did not know what happened and did not  notice their loss. A very few Philippine individuals felt a little advantage, others felt some satisfaction at seeing Marcos leave the islands, most experienced very little change and no advantage.

                To make beneficial changes in governance, an understanding of  the present government helps. A wide understanding of common wants and needs is also a help. Another help, which calls for some learning and experience, is knowledge of the kinds of governance available to mankind. A great understanding of the governance of the state and government with which one is most familiar may be vital. We benefit by learning to justly, legally, and effectively use our actual government.  

                Power with no action is no power at all. That may be good because there are some powers worse than others. Most agree that a power used for good is the better power. Power can be very good when it is handled with skill and understanding. The greater that skill and understanding the better the chances are for a good result. We each have the power to improve both our understanding and our skill. We need the will to learn and to practice the basics of civil co-operation.   

                All of us can benefit by each of us developing a better understanding of democracy among us. 

                As for people power, its power may be measured by the will of the people to govern, and of their understanding the nature of governance, A good source of understanding is experience. Experience can include organizing for action and education. Such experience may also be gained in the practice of politics, civics, social co-operation and most democratic social activity. Knowledge of the workings of ones actual government may be vital. Knowledge of the laws and systems of your government is important. That is a clear understanding of the workings of your present government is important to any success. Details are important, but a clear overall  vision of the governance is often more powerful. So, in the USA, the ongoing improvement of your understanding of the meanings to be found in the Constitution, the more powerfully effective you may be. Frequent quotations from that document are seldom helpful.

                When one is active the ongoing clarification of plans and goals may become critical.

                A good beginning for an active citizen is showing up. Also the practice of associating oneself with clear, realistic, appropriate goals and plans can go far in keeping one out of difficulties.

                People power, in the hands and heart of those who show up to participate, listen, learn; and then to act with love and respect for themselves, their body politic, and humanity in general, has a great chance for being strong, enduring, and good. 

                Your deepening understanding, of democracy and the will of the good people around you, can give you effective strength.

                Satisfaction can be found in co-operation with to practice governance of one's self and in co-operating with others in your common governance.

                Thank you for reading. I appreciate comments to the contents of this post.

 

                                                                RCS 

                                                                                      Here's More !                                      

Governance With RCS: revolution and people power             

                 Most attempts at revolution fail due to lack of understanding of the ways and means of rule. A grave lack is, failing to achieve consensus of what to do after the "bad guys" have been deposed. This is often due to lack of will to use communication skills to better advantage. An ongoing inclusive dialogue seems called for.

                Often a resolution is mounted by a coalition of parties. Once the oppressive rulers have been deprived of power, members of the coalition parties lack sufficient skills at cooperation with and compromising with the other groups. So, governance relapses into a state of sickness.

            It also seems worthwhile to consider that, that which begins in killing often does not go forth well.

                Comments on content are welcome.

                                                                                                Richard

 

Universiry of California at Berkeley

Governance With RCS including: Californians, people, citizens, governing, education, university, Land Grant College

 

                It appears that most Californians no longer think of the University of California as our university.  If that is the fact, I am sure that there is a very good reason for them to think so.

                Californians now, it seems, think so little of their university that the now give it very little support emotionally, intellectually, or financially. For the first time in the history of the University, private philanthropy contributes more to it than do the people of the State.  I am grateful that such help is available. However, I also see it as another case of giving to the 1% that which once belonged to the people.

                Once, our plan for the University was that it not only be an engine that fueled the economic prosperity of California, but also an institution that developed citizens capable of governing the State and to help govern the Nation.

                Where we once were willing to pay for for the education of  students who were able to govern as well as to produce wealth, we are now putting our governance into the hands of those few parents who can afford to pay for a great education for for their offspring now and to those certain powerful organized private parties with a great accumulation of wealth.   

                What is the status of U of C at B as a Land Grant college?

I love suggestions, comments, and interesting information.

 

 

                                                                RCS

 

Habeas Corpus: From 17th Century England to Today

Justice Delayed is Justice DeniedWartime use of the writ of habeas corpus. Interpretation example at Guantanamo Bay and historic examples with other modern interpretations. Why did we not learn this law, right, and duty of ours at school and at home. It is our Great Right. Continue learning more about it. Use  it or lose it.

Let's Have a Party! What is Kennedy's Platform like?

Governance: values, planks, platforms, parties, people, a bit of politics

 

                Or, let's have a platform. Or, let's have a plank. "A party" sounds most attractive, but I have reason to consider a plank first.

                The kind of plank I am considering is political. is the name given to fundamental parts of a political platform. Political party platforms are made  up of planks. This kind of plank does not come from a tree, but rather from the minds of men and women.  We can shape one, or more.

                We have some ideas about the nature of a political party.  Historically each person running for political office  usually had a platform much like the platform of his party. So we know that a platform is what a person running for office stood on. I Great Britain, I believe, stood for office rather than running for office as one does in the US. A platform was once more about what party stood for rather than stood on. A party and it's platform may be much about wants, interests, needs, desires, values, and even philosophy of citizens, the men and women of the nation.

                So, parties had and have platforms. An important of those platforms were its planks.  Each plank was likely to represent a specific want, interest need, values of citizens

                Right now I am less interested in specific candidates, elections, or parties and am more interested in the specifics the platform they stand on. The specifics are best found in its planks.

                So, I am interested in platforms and the planks of those platforms, I am interested in specific planks and sets of planks one can stand on and for. I can direct my interests to the specifics of a chosen plank. I want a solid plank I can work on and see implemented in our nation.  I am interested in a plank I can be proud to stand up for. I am interested in a plank which represents real and specific values and interests in an understandable and attractive way.

                There is a lot  to learn and we can find some satisfaction in helping one another. I am pretty sure that a plank or a splinter of it may lead to the creation of a  Bill. That.s something

*******************************************************************

First we form some great planks. Or find them in the 20 some party sites online. With them we can make a great platform.  On that great platform can stand a great (new) party.  A party to be proud of. We can learn a lot in the process.

Heaven forbid that other parties should copy a plank of ours. 

We could look through the planks we find online and pick out the ones we really like a lot.




by Richard Sheehan