Democracy: government by the people: rule of the majority: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections. The absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges.
Civics: a social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens.
We the people (the public forum) have become vulnerable to acting on what a democracy is by definition. It appears that we live in an era where action is generated more by fear, media and political perception than by civics. Friedman writes in today’s New York Times, “America will continue to export more fear than hope”. (See complete article here).
I find it funny that most people agree on solutions but dispute the cause. Yes, we’re addicted to oil and yes, clean energy is good. Not a difficult conversation to have. However, climate change or global warming causes countless discourse when the solution is already agreed upon. The media entertains us with the verdict then the trial follows. Politicians become late night televangelists prophesying tomorrow’s headlines. Fear is injected into people that mythically believe what were told. The cycle repeats.
Does America need a good uprising? Historically if you want to create social change you need a good uprising. See the 60’s for the civil liberties generation. Those people rose up and created change. Democracy is a conversation.
