sherri wrote in "What is democracy? LO15652"
>Democracy is a dream. My husband says we are a representative
>republic. We vote people in and then they do whatever they want. Is
>democracy really too complex for our immature power hungry tiny
>minds to really create? I have spent most of my life being
>apolitical. I didn't vote until I was 30. I still think it is a
>farce. Please don't say it is the best thing going because that
>makes us complacent and arrogant. We settle for mediocracy and
>ineptness.
People who do not participate in a system that was designed for
participation have absolutely no right to complain when the system
does not work in their favor. Perhaps if you, and the millions like
you, had been participating since you were first able, our system
would not be as skewed as it is right now. The problem with the
apathetics in our world, is that they do nothing until it affects
them. You're right, that is NOT democracy. That is arrogance and
selfishness on your part. It is because of your complacency that you
now have to suffer with some one who has figured out how to manipulate
the system to his advantage.
How did he do this?
Simple.
P-A-R-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N
Now, you are being forced to participate. Now, _you_ have to figure
out how to manipulate the system, and your neighbor has a huge lead on
you.
You say that we settle for mediocrity. I hate to tell you this, but
those mediocre, inept individuals in _your_ government were elected. A
process in which you did not participate. Perhaps if the apathetics
started paying attention, they would see the ineptitude and take
action, BY VOTING.
Here's a great example of New Hampshire complacency in action.
The Governer of NH recently sponsored legislation to raise the tax
on cigarettes by 12c per pack ion order to raise money for the states
education system. The measure was voted down. The tobacco PACs had
basically camped out at the state house, peddling their influence to
the lawmakers. Governor Shaheen said in a speech later that she was
exceptionally disappointed in the lack of public response and noted
that the welfare of the children had been sacrificed for the sake of
tobacco company profits. I was a resident of NH then, and I called my
rep (Bev Hollingsworth) to express my displeasure before and after the
vote. That action, citizens apathy and lawmakers greed was a
contributing factor to us selling our house and moving to MA. I still
think it was the right move.
Do you even know who your rep is? I was even tempted to call Bob Smith
(do you know who he is?) but I knew that would be pointless because
his support (for and from) polluting industries and the tobacco
companies is well known. He was _voted_ into office. Again, a process
in which you did not participate.
Do I think that your neighbor is right? Certainly not, The obvious
issues of safety and property devaluation aside, it is a complete lack
of consideration for his neighbors.
I wish you luck in your quest, but feel that it was your own
complacency that got you into this in the first place.
JHC
[Host's Note: Why is this thread on the LO list? I've distributed these
msgs, and I do reject things I feel should not be on the list, because I
feel that the issues are mirrored in our organizations in which the
governed are also ineffectively represented. When I say "represented"
I don't mean unions; I'm talking about everyone. Dilbert is so popular
because there are problems in our organizations, problems that mirror
Sherri's problem up in NH. ...Rick]
--JAMES_H_CARRINGTON@HP-Chelmsford-om1.om.hp.com
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>