On “our democracy”
Posted on December 19th, 2007 by Jackie Danicki
One of my pet peeves is people talking about “our democracy” as if democracy itself is sacred. Far from it!
The notion that “our democracy depends on individual freedom” strongly implies that freedom should or does serve democracy. I would argue that democracy is not an end in and of itself at all but at best merely a tool by which freedom is pursued by mitigating the power of the state…[A]nd where democracy becomes a tool for imposing the power of the state, it becomes part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Filed under: Life
When people start spouting off about freedoms, they are usually talking about their own, no matter how much it infringes on mine. Everyone has to give up a little freedom for the sake of democracy. If everyone were totally free I would call that anarchy.
“When people start spouting off about freedoms, they are usually talking about their own, no matter how much it infringes on mine.”
Really? Why do you think that? I’m genuinely curious. I want all women and men to be free - and that includes freedom from others encroaching on the rights of any individual.
Nothing is for the sake of democracy: Democracy is supposed to ensure individual freedom and liberty. Often democracy is used to destroy rights and empower the state (and big business, that mighty extension of the state).
I’m not sure what you mean by “totally free,” but anarchy - broadly speaking - just means that society exists without government. (I would call myself a minarchist as opposed to an anarchist, advocating very limited government for quite specific functions.)
The first freedom that springs to mind is the tired “I should have the freedom not to breath other peoples second hand smoke.”
I always find the people who complain most about the government taking away their freedoms seem to be the people who vote away mine. Is it me or do they seem to want to subvert the country to what their view of it is? They know what’s best for everyone and anyone who disagrees is a Jesus freak or a tool.
But our definitions of freedom may not be the same and people tend to take limits for granted. You tend to be more of an anarchist than I am, I don’t totally hate the government, I just want them to stay out of my house unless they are bringing cigars and more beer. The government needs to stick to what they do best; bombing people who’d like to harm my family and friends.
I guess I’ve been using rights and freedoms interchangeably and they aren’t necessarily the same thing. But in general I do agree with what your view of democracy should be. Since you mentioned big business, does it seem to you that a third layer of government is developing, ie. corporate fiefdoms?
Or did I get that idea from you?
whew! that’ll be all I get done today now.