[Winona Online Democracy]
I have to this point in time been overwhelmed by the variety, complexity,
and volume of local issues discussed in Winona Online Democracy. I do much
better on broader or macro types of issues. Now, Dwayne Voegeli has
provided me with an excellent opportunity to provide my two cents worth on
our participation in our democracy.
First, I'm hoping Dwayne doesn't characterize our government as 'watered
down' or 'diluted' democracy to his students. Ancient Athens' version of
democracy was majority rule, as long as you weren't a woman or a slave. Our
country has withstood both violent and non-violent, protracted struggles to
remedy the flaws evident in ancient Greek government. I guess I would
characterize our version of democracy, (thanks to an enduring constitution
intended to protect the minority), as a refinement to or enhancement of the
Greek version.
Second, in representative democracy we depend on others to do our bidding
for us. The impracticality of all people voting on all issues should be
'self evident.' Unfortunately, our citizen legislatures have turned into
professional special interest groups, led by lawyers, bureaucRATS, and out
of touch academicians who create such clumsy, poorly formulated laws that
the supreme court is asked to resolve all of the major issues of the day.
And we sit back and complain about an 'activist' court.
So how do we, the people, regain our voice. I suppose term limits would
help, but then we lose whatever expertise or influence our representatives
may have developed. We could try increasing our personal day-to-day
involvement, but that would affect our family life and may have little
effect at the national level. note: I do agree with Dwayne that decreased
extra-circulars (sports, clubs, etc.) would enhance our family lives, even
if we all just sat in our living rooms or kitchens and read the newspaper
with our kids at night.
Is no solution at hand? Maybe...if we could reduce the involvement of the
national government in our everyday life, and transfer the cost,
responsibility, and tax base to local authorities, we could at least empower
our local officials. These are the people who are our friends and
neighbors. They share our cares and concerns, and maybe even a common value
system. Maybe government, at least local government would be a reflection
of ourselves and not the NEA, NRA, UAW, ABA, or any of those other faceless
acronyms.
In the meantime, if you don't vote, don't...well don't complain. It's the
only voice you have right now.
gene thiele
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dwayne Voegeli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2000 9:19 AM
Subject: [Winona] Distractions and Democracy
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> Hello Duane (Peterson) and Others,
>
> I agree that we have many "distractions" in today's world.
>
> At the same time, some of them are very important distractions. Either
> volunteering or helping out with Boy/Girl Scouts, church youth groups,
> youth task forces, PTA's, local service clubs, t-ball coaching, mentorship
> programs, environemental groups, etc. are all the stuff of a real
> democracy. I don't think distractions are the problem, except for goofy
> football games (I played football in high school and college) and sleazy
> talk shows (I love to talk).
>
> As Jeremy Rifkin and many other authors have pointed out, we need to take
> back more of our "civic time". To put in bluntly, we need to work less
and
> spend more time with our families, churches, community groups, gardens,
and
> ourselves. The way the world is is not the way it should be or has to be.
>
> I believe that most of the solutions to most of the world's challenges
> already exist in books or people's minds. The problem is that most of do
> not have enough time to learn about the solutions or to help out with
them.
>
> Time, time, time.
>
> I believe the solutions do not lie with big business or big government.
> The solutions lie with small and medium sized groups of common citizens.
>
> We must reduce our "average" work week.
>
> It is impossible if only a few industries or sectors of our economy
attempt
> to do it but it would work if it applied to all people and businesses.
>
> Imagine what we could do if we had more civic time.
>
> Dwayne
>
> -----------------
>
>
> >From: "Duane Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: "Dwayne Voegeli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Subject: Re: [Winona] Letter to the Editor
> >Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 13:31:30 -0500
> >MIME-Version: 1.0
> >X-Priority: 3
> >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
> >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2919.6600
> >
> >Dwayne, We have too many distractions these days. The world is run by
> >those who show up for the meetings. That was how I got involved in
> >politics --by being one of those who showed up for the meetings. This
> >online democracy should be a part of the answer. I hope that it works.
> >Duane M. Peterson
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Dwayne Voegeli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Sent: Monday, September 11, 2000 9:26 AM
> >Subject: [Winona] Letter to the Editor
> >
> >
> >> [Winona Online Democracy]
> >>
> >> >
> >> >So why do you think people don't attend city council meetings or take
> >much
> >> >of an interest in local elections? Are there ways to improve this
> >> >situation?
> >>
> >> ----------
> >>
> >> Yes, it was a great article by Mr. Selleck about pedestrian rights.
> >>
> >> Steve Kranz asked a good question about low attendance at local
government
> >> meetings.
> >>
> >> I always try to encourage my students to resist the temptation to look
for
> >> simple answers to complex problems so I want to be careful about
offering
> >a
> >> "simple" solution myself.
> >>
> >> I believe one of the major reasons is that we live in a representative
and
> >> not a participatory "democracy". We are turned into spectators who are
> >> viewing others having all the fun. I believe this leads to a possible
> >> danger of large numbers of us becoming civic couch potatoes.
> >>
> >> If we remember what democracy was originally like in Ancient Athens, we
> >> would see a participatory form of democratic government very different
> >than
> >> our watered down and dilluted version.
> >>
> >> Is an active, "hands-on" government of, by, and for the people possible
> >today?
> >>
> >> I would reply "yes" but it would require us to think outside of many
boxes
> >> and to dream a little bit.
> >>
> >> What do you all think?
> >>
> >> Dwayne
> >>
> >>
> >> ----------------
> >> This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project.
> >> Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or
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> >>
> >>
> >
>
>
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