How many times have you voted in the last twelve months ? That is, how many times have you participated in your country’s affairs ??
Democracy means people rule. That’s δημοκρατία, demos (the people) kratos (rule).
Our system, the western system, is not democracy if we hold it in front of the mirror. The demos does not kratos and no one pretends it does. That’s why we have terms like representative democracy, parliamentary democracy, electoral democracy, indirect democracy. Funny, though not very, that the word democracy cannot stand alone to describe any of the world’s political systems. Some exceptionally benign looking adjectives are doing an exceptional amount of damage by obscuring the truth.
Everything exists on a spectrum. The question is – how much democracy is there? Not simply is this or is this not a democracy, but how democratic is this system. On reflection, there are only scraps to feed on.
Of course, not everyone wants a more democratic world. I am not talking about the enemies of democracy, but its self unaware champions. Many who love their political system would hate to see people given more choice. Leave it to the political class, who are more intelligent and responsible, they would reason.
They are not wrong to voice concerns, but they clearly lack courage. Democracy, if we really believe in it, is a moral imperative. It promises that the people rule, but seems to have stopped dead in the west, with so many so satisfied and so ready to abuse the word itself.
Democracy is worth dying for, we must have it.
But not this farce. In the modern world, leaving the country to a members club is unnecessary. Votes need not be taken in some grand chamber, but by the means that are available.
Our western world can be democratic, and it must.
But not this disgrace. Shame on our country and to all those in parliament.
It’s time for democracy, a big, big democracy. As big as conditions allow.
.The big dEE . 