DEMOCRACY - Nov 2011
I recently came across this quote from Abraham Lincoln:“As labor is the common burden of our race, so the effect of some to shift their share of their burden onto the shoulders of others is the great curse of the race. As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.
"Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy. Our reliance is in our love for liberty; our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all people in all lands everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and we have planted the seeds of despotism at our own doors. Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves, and cannot long retain it. Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” -- Abraham Lincoln
I really like this because of its emphasis on equality. It acknowledges that all of us have a duty to each other as equals. Radical egalitarianism is the basic ideal of democracy and it’s the call that is coming from the “Occupiers” demonstrating against Wall Street profiteers. Their call is for a spirit free from oppressive forces, and, in particular the abolition of what so many believe is the evil of despotism in our economic system.
Is our banking world, which is intimately tied to corporations, democratic? Clearly not. So how do we bring the forces of capitalism, which is all about shifting the burden of labor onto others, together with the egalitarian ideals of democracy? To put it simply -- perhaps too simply -- the issue is power: who has it and who does not.
The Occupiers believe power should be shared and distributed equally. They are practicing their ideals by not elevating any leaders in their movement. This reflects a radical shift between generations in our country: the younger folks, having becoming deeply suspicious, believe that leadership is fluid and meant to be shared among equals. Yet, even the great Saul Alinsky, the 20th century community organizer, who surely would be there in the tents with the Occupiers, made economic and social change happen because he was a powerful leader, and he knew that change only happens when we’re in relationship with the powerful.
Community organizing groups such as -- in our area, VOICE and Virginia Organizing -- are based on the ideas and experience of Saul Alinsky. They know that change requires strong leadership and building relationships with powerful people. The young demonstrators -- whom I admire and respect for their ideals and perseverance -- are getting a harsh lesson as they witness the clash between capitalism and democracy. Democracy is an equalizing force created, in part, to counter the inherent inequalities imbedded within capitalism. But capitalism, for better or for worse, is our current economic system, and its proponents cannot be expected to promote egalitarianism.
The Occupiers want change, but don’t know how to get it other than yelling from a powerless position. Their protests should be directed at two other powerful leadership groups: the stockholders of the corporations and banks, and the politicians who vote on the laws. They will succeed only if, overcoming their mistrust, they find great leaders from within their own ranks, who can then achieve change, partly by building relationships with the powerful.
I really like this because of its emphasis on equality. It acknowledges that all of us have a duty to each other as equals. Radical egalitarianism is the basic ideal of democracy and it’s the call that is coming from the “Occupiers” demonstrating against Wall Street profiteers. Their call is for a spirit free from oppressive forces, and, in particular the abolition of what so many believe is the evil of despotism in our economic system.
Is our banking world, which is intimately tied to corporations, democratic? Clearly not. So how do we bring the forces of capitalism, which is all about shifting the burden of labor onto others, together with the egalitarian ideals of democracy? To put it simply -- perhaps too simply -- the issue is power: who has it and who does not.
The Occupiers believe power should be shared and distributed equally. They are practicing their ideals by not elevating any leaders in their movement. This reflects a radical shift between generations in our country: the younger folks, having becoming deeply suspicious, believe that leadership is fluid and meant to be shared among equals. Yet, even the great Saul Alinsky, the 20th century community organizer, who surely would be there in the tents with the Occupiers, made economic and social change happen because he was a powerful leader, and he knew that change only happens when we’re in relationship with the powerful.
Community organizing groups such as -- in our area, VOICE and Virginia Organizing -- are based on the ideas and experience of Saul Alinsky. They know that change requires strong leadership and building relationships with powerful people. The young demonstrators -- whom I admire and respect for their ideals and perseverance -- are getting a harsh lesson as they witness the clash between capitalism and democracy. Democracy is an equalizing force created, in part, to counter the inherent inequalities imbedded within capitalism. But capitalism, for better or for worse, is our current economic system, and its proponents cannot be expected to promote egalitarianism.
The Occupiers want change, but don’t know how to get it other than yelling from a powerless position. Their protests should be directed at two other powerful leadership groups: the stockholders of the corporations and banks, and the politicians who vote on the laws. They will succeed only if, overcoming their mistrust, they find great leaders from within their own ranks, who can then achieve change, partly by building relationships with the powerful.
