From: Christoph Reuss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>What's the use of Direct Democracy if the people is brainwashed by
>corporate media and misinformed to take the wrong decisions ?
>How can ecological revolution succeed democratically with a majority of
>polluting egoists and "No Future" idiots ?
Good question! IMHO, democracy is an idea whose time has past.
Here are my current assumptions:
#1. The scientific community is correct -- that we have now
exceeded the carrying capacity of our planet, and that
continued "business as usual" will result in a global
population crash in less than 35 years -- billions may die
untimely deaths.
#2. The expected crash is the WORST possible outcome for
societies all over the world. World governments must do
whatever is necessary to avoid the crash.
#3. Once carrying capacity was exceeded, political questions
have "right" and "wrong" answers. The "right" answers will
tend to delay the crash, the "wrong" answers will tend to
hasten the crash.
The "right" and "wrong" political answers can only be
determined by scientists working collectively, utilizing
modern technology. What point democracy if scientists
already know what the answers MUST be? [1]
#4. America's political system is "structurally" defective.
"Government by popularity contest" can only elect idiots
and liars. There absolutely no way that idiots and liars
can solve the colossal problems that confront our
civilization today.
#5. Political theory is merely the rationalization of economic
theory, with our present form of democracy serving as the
rationalization of laissez-faire capitalism. Thus, in order
to change our politics, we must first change our economics.
To see the outlines of the new economics (and your new
political future as well), read the publications of the
International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE).
Many ISEE publications are available from Island Press:
http://www.islandpress.com/
#6. Metaphysical[2] beliefs are irrelevant except to gauge the
emotional impacts of various policies on the public.
The next century is going to be a blast! <G>
Jay -- http://dieoff.org/page1.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Although no one rants and raves against democracy as much
as I do, read Kaplain's recent article at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97dec/democ.htm
[2] metaphysical: A priori speculation upon questions that are
unanswerable to scientific observation, analysis, or
experiment.
e.g., political, neoclassical economic, and moral theories.
---------------------------------------------------------------
"When we run over libraries, persuaded of these principles, what
havoc must we make? If we take in hand any volume of school
metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, 'Does it contain any
abstract reasoning concerning quantity and number?' No. 'Does it
contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and
existence?' No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain
nothing but sophistry and illusion." -- David Hume
