“Our society is not really based on public participation in decision making in any significant sense. Rather, it is a system of elite decision and periodic public ratification.”
Noam Chomsky
I don't often want to veer off into politics on my blog. Sure I talk about politics a lot at home and with my family - too much for some family members - but I always think it can be a dangerous topic if you don't know how folk think or feel.
So, I'm not really veering into politics I promise - it's just that this described for me what democracy sometimes feels like. Many of us live in democratic countries with the right and privilege to vote for who leads and governs us. I value my vote and each time I see hard-fought fledgling democracies arise and I watch people queue for hours and days for their first chance to be counted and to have a say I want to weep. And try not to take it for granted that I get to choose, I get to vote.
And then sometimes I feel as if those we have elected - at every level of government - just lose the plot, make decisions without reference to the good or needs of the people and only occasionally (every 3 years here) do we get to say - OK we trust you enough to go again, or No, seriously we don't want you anymore.
In one way, I think people can get more involved in public decision making these days in a way - the impact of social media campaigns can change the direction or decisions of governments; but I worry too that in these instances we end up being governed in a knee-jerk way just to shut the debate down. Often on the big picture-future issues we don't seem to get a proper say.
But anyway, enough of my political ponderings - the topic today was"Life" following my regular sequence of Art, Life, Books. Maybe next time Life will be more fun!
Some of the flags in the International Flag Display in Canberra our national capital. The 96 flags are dedicated to the UN and to those nations that maintain a diplomatic presence in Canberra.
Noam Chomsky
I don't often want to veer off into politics on my blog. Sure I talk about politics a lot at home and with my family - too much for some family members - but I always think it can be a dangerous topic if you don't know how folk think or feel.
So, I'm not really veering into politics I promise - it's just that this described for me what democracy sometimes feels like. Many of us live in democratic countries with the right and privilege to vote for who leads and governs us. I value my vote and each time I see hard-fought fledgling democracies arise and I watch people queue for hours and days for their first chance to be counted and to have a say I want to weep. And try not to take it for granted that I get to choose, I get to vote.
And then sometimes I feel as if those we have elected - at every level of government - just lose the plot, make decisions without reference to the good or needs of the people and only occasionally (every 3 years here) do we get to say - OK we trust you enough to go again, or No, seriously we don't want you anymore.
In one way, I think people can get more involved in public decision making these days in a way - the impact of social media campaigns can change the direction or decisions of governments; but I worry too that in these instances we end up being governed in a knee-jerk way just to shut the debate down. Often on the big picture-future issues we don't seem to get a proper say.
But anyway, enough of my political ponderings - the topic today was"Life" following my regular sequence of Art, Life, Books. Maybe next time Life will be more fun!
Some of the flags in the International Flag Display in Canberra our national capital. The 96 flags are dedicated to the UN and to those nations that maintain a diplomatic presence in Canberra.
sigh... politics is positively demoralising.... whereas grassroots, roll-up-you-sleeves, 'be the change' is completely uplifting.... I have no faith in politics and politicians to do the job of making it a better world - BUT I do have faith in hard work of ordinary common sense big hearted folk xx
ReplyDeleteHear hear Ronnie. It saddens me that we feel as if we can't rely upon the people we vote for; yet I will defend the right to vote for them. I hope we never see an end to the get in and do it we see from the ground up - as you say, heartening and encouraging!
DeleteI so agree with you about politics...just be glad you don't live in the U.S., I think the corruption and abuse of power might be worse here than anywhere else in the world, especially when you consider that this country was established to abolish all of that. So much for experiments. And I, too, feel knee-jerked by every petition that needs to be signed to get the politicians to do what they're supposed to do. About all I can do any more to stay sane is stay under the radar and tune out as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteHi Connie - I think under the radar is a darn fine place to be! Every country has its ups and downs, pros and cons with its political systems and I do still think that democracy is better than dictatorships...still it is frustrating and upsetting at times.
DeleteI know what you mean about talking politics Fiona but in a week where Italy has failed to agree on a way to govern itself I think it is important just to understand the ramifications of not using your vote. My father always drummed it into me that women had died so that I could vote and like you, I always exercise my right to use it.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley - I agree so much. The fact that women only got to vote 100 years ago or so, still resonates with me and make me truly value my vote. What those women did and achieved....
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