In light of yesterdays post about the world having pity on us, I thought I had better put out an immediate post about how we can show the world that we are doing something about our condition. That is what this post is all about.
Continue reading “We Are Not A Hopeless Victim…”
There is so much disinformation flying around today that it is becoming a threat to our form of democracy. Why that is and who is responsible for reigning it in? That is what this post is all about.
Continue reading “Responsibility of the Gatekeepers”
Is democracy going to be that short 250 year period in earth’s history when we thought people could rule themselves? Given what has been happening the last decade or so, it seems we might not not up to the task. In the beginning of our American democracy Thomas Jefferson said: Are we up to that task today? It seems not. We in the US allowed a completely incompetent con-man to snake his way into the Oval Office. Anyone who cared to do even a minimal amount of study would have found that he was totally unprepared for the job. He … Continue reading The Twilight Of Democracy?
We in the U.S. know that one of the primary foundations of our democracy is freedom of speech. That is being able to say something different from our leaders and not suffer serious consequences. In my opinion, this is what … Continue reading The Church Is Not a Democracy….
It’s become quite clear that really bad people get more attention than decent people. Liars get more attention than truth-tellers. Conspiracy theories get more likes than reasoned arguments. It’s clear that short tweets are more convincing with some people than … Continue reading Latching On To False Beliefs..
The article below got me to thinking a little more deeply about our time in the USA and if we can survive them as a democracy. Tribalism is how we as humans survived to become the thinking creatures we are. It is at the core of our human experience. Tribalism, it’s always worth remembering, is not one aspect of human experience. It’s the default human experience. It comes more naturally to us than any other way of life. For the overwhelming majority of our time on this planet, the tribe was the only form of human society. We lived for … Continue reading Tribalism & Democracy..
It is becoming abundantly clear to me now that when it comes to video media that the tails wags the dog. Keeping me informed so that I can make wise decisions is not a prominent goal of most telemedia companies, especially those like CNN, MSNBC and FOX. Unlike much of the rest of the world our news sources depend of advertising to stay in existence. The more views they can get, the more they can charge for advertising. It is as simple as that. For those of us who are at least middle aged, we know of a different time. … Continue reading The Tail Wags The Dog..
I see where the Greeks elected a new government this week to help them reduce austerity that was forced upon them by the European Union bailout. This reminded me of a book I read a few years ago entitled “Boomerang” by Michael Lewis. One chapter in the book was about Greece. The book is very enlightening and well written. Here are some selected snippets about Greece. The average government job pays almost three times the average private-sector job. The national railroad has annual revenues of 100 million euros against an annual wage bill of 400 million, plus 300 million euros … Continue reading About Those Greeks…
“Never blame a legislative body for not doing something. When they do nothing, that don’t hurt anybody. It’s when they do something is when they become dangerous.” – Will Rogers, 22 November 1929 Maybe I am looking at the politics thing all wrong Will? As you say if our congress is doing nothing maybe that is a good thing. Maybe when they do things is when they get in trouble? I know this is one of your more popular quotes, but I kind of think you get it wrong in at least a couple of areas. When one small portion … Continue reading We Have The Best Congress Ever…..
Source: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_form_of_government_does_the_US_have#ixzz24fhg3VC9 Thomas Jefferson said, “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” Thomas Jefferson, March 11, 1790: “The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.” f Alexander Hamilton, in debate, said: “Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate government.” Alexander Hamilton, in Senate: “It has been observed that a pure democracy, if it were practicable, would be the most perfect government. Experience has … Continue reading Thank Heavens The U.S. Is Not a Democracy….
A Democracy depends on an informed and involved public. If you want to see change it must start at the ballot box…… Continue reading VOTE………
We elect our Presidents, be they Republican or Democrat, then go home and start daring ’em to make good. – April 1, 1935 Will Rogers Sometimes I can really get down to that deep thinking. I mean the pure foundational stuff. I think what Will said above is foundational stuff for a democracy. We elect our presidents and all the other people’s representative and then go home and dare them to get it right! This worked pretty well for the first two centuries of our existence. There were a few duds during that period but generally the people we elected … Continue reading Daring ’em to Make Good…
This is where our democracy started. It is a very spiritual type place. This was my second visit there. Continue reading Independence Hall Philadelphia–April 1994
Can you imagine a democracy that was the result of the people living the country rising up and not from an invasion by the U.S.? What happened to the Bush Doctrine? I thought we were the democracy builders for the world? What are those Egyptians trying to do put our military out of business? Glenn Beck and his crowd were right up front cheering the invasion of Iraq to “free” the people but it seems when its done the old fashioned way he is against it. Unfortunately when you let people form their own democracy it sometimes doesn’t come out as … Continue reading Democracy, The Old Fashioned Way
RJ's Corner - Having My Say 