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[Prev|Next|Index] Thu, Feb 22, 1996 Scott. A. H. Ruggels
The Preservation of Democracy
By Scott. A. H. Ruggels
Democracy
Scott A. H. Ruggels
I know what the technical terms for democracy means, but the
dictionary definition is not what It feels like. To me the most
important pieces of Democracy are those that ended up in the
founding documents in this country. This was set up in the
thought that this would be government by the people and for the
people, and that the assumption that we as citizens of the United
States were allowed to exercise or inalienable rights for life
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But a successful Democracy
is a two way street. In exchange for this freedom, there was also
assumed a certain level of consideration for others, and a
certain responsibility for your own affairs. Whether you
succeeded of failed, was your own business.
The danger these days is that there are two forces working in
concert to pervert or end, this great experiment in Government.
One the one hand you have people with no sense of responsibility,
and they wish to avoid any of the duties expected of them, or
wish to be cared for. The worst of this of my acquaintance was a
person named Michael Hirtes who in his 20's applied for
disability payments because he couldn't cope. There is now a
dependent class that wishes to contribute nothing, and believe
that the world owes them, often perverting the word justice in
their calls for assistance. Some people are smarter and more
capable, and yes there are others because of mental handicap and
deformity that deserve care through no fault of their own, but
the basic idea, was that to see each citizen of this country.
The other class is a section of paternalistic elites, who believe
that only they have the vision to find the correct path. They do
not think the others have big enough education or distance of
vision to be able to manage their own affairs. Busybodies, and
the Holier than thou, that know the one true way, and wish to
have these views institutionalized. Either on the right or the
left, either on the top or the bottom, each seeks to have their
views become law, and make sure that everyone knows they are
doing it for "the public safety," "The Children," "The Unborn,"
"The common good," "The Workers, and Peasants," or any other
cause. This flies right in the face of the precept that" All men
are created equal". Well, all men are not "created equal," but
under the law they are seen as equal entities, no better or no
worse than any other. The President and I should be judged
equally if we are both caught for shoplifting at the 7-11.
Money? It has an influence yet, but money is a resource. It does
not buy justice, and it does not deny justice. Money just buys
better talent, and those with a lot of money just have a talent
for collecting it. Money may not have as much of an influence on
the democratic process as some of those interested in reform seem
to think. Forbes may have out spent his competitors in the recent
primaries to bring his message to the people, but the people
found his message less than attractive, and voted accordingly. So
while it makes one's message more pervasive, it does not allow
one to "buy" the election. The influence of PACs is not to be
denied, but the legislator who accepts the money from a PAC also
has to answer to their constituents come election time, and these
things leave record.
Records, as well as other such information is available on the
net. Communication and information are the key to a successful
democracy. The better and more educated one's choice was, the
better the result. In the days before the mass media, education
was nearly a sacred calling, and it was taken very seriously. At
the tail end of the age of reason, when our government assembled
from many ideas, the Founding fathers enjoyed a broad education
in "The Classics," and as such had the mental discipline to
construct the remarkable framework for this government. Now
education is spotty at best, and the abandonment of high
standards, just so those certain classes of students don't feel
bad, has rendered education nearly worthless. Information on the
other hand is more prevalent than at any time in history, and
with our declining education the capability of using this
information, or separating the fact from fiction is eroding with
the lowering of educational standards. Those with mediocre
education, become the next generation of the dependent class. The
current furor over the censorship of the net is a troubling sign
as well, as these elites wish to filter the information available
to the dependent class.
In conclusion, A healthy democracy depends on a clear thinking,
and educated populace. Without that education, the people will
make poor choices, and those with the drive to impose their views
will manipulate the system in attaining positions of power and
influence. So education and a free flow of information are the
key toa healthy democracy. Education in proper conduct, difficult
concepts to foster mental discipline, facts and history so as to
be able to make proper judgments, and the skills to be self
reliant, could end the current threats to democracy, but their
needs to be a national will and an appreciation of a hard
education, and the drive to implement it. For our citizens to be
able to enjoy Life Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they
need to know what it means, and learn how to preserve those
functions that permit it.
Scott A. H. Ruggels Redwood City, California February 22. 1996
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[Twenty-Four Hours of Democracy]