How to Save Democracy

I completely agree with James Hovland on this--we cannot even think about exporting our ideas of democracy if we allow our leaders to constantly undermine those very ideals internally. Whatever Bush has done for the spread of democracy, he has done much worse for our own democracy. I know that it's almost cliche at this point to even point that out, but check out this graphic: http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/17/#1/27. How can all of those actions add up to anything other than a non-democracy?!

I think Mr diamond is "RIGHT-ON-POINT" with this article. It's about doing what's right and insisting that others also step up to the table of doing the right thing, simply, because it is, the right thing to DO!!!!!

Dale
Tracy, CA

While I went through this article, I kept thinking of an example in South America, where US has been helpful in this noble cause of democracy-promotion. Why does the author think Venezuela has gone authoritarian, when the people of the country refused to vote for any semblance of authoritarian rule by Chavez? Cuba, could not become a democracy but they have achieved levels of gender-equality, education, and equity unprecedented in the region. The role of the US motivated by their business and anti-socialism interests and the heavy handling of states in the region had created an element of insecurity. With the changing times the US omnipotence could have some share-holders to produce some diversity at the top and militant pursuing of interest could give way to dialogue. Let us hope.

Before we continue to promote Democracy we need to make it work. We were promised a government of, by, and for the people, but what we have is, the governing of the people, by the media, mostly for their corporate buddies. That just isn't inspiring, or worth spreading. If we are not careful, people will think we are spreading Democracy as a Trojan Horse for a Capitalist takeover. That's not the kind of image we want for America or Democracy.

Democracy in America has been nothing more than an illusion of choice, and a false sense of empowerment, but the potential is there for the people to make it real, and the world has changed in ways that make that possible.

Edward Bernays was probably the most influential man in American history, if you did not learn this in school give your History teacher an 'F'. Read this quote,and think about these words: "conscious intelligent manipulation"

"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our government." ~ Bernays, 1928

Propaganda is a very real, very professional service that is available to anyone who can afford it. This is an influence that must be understood for the condition of Democracy in America to ever make sense. Emotional triggers are created and used to invoke irrational opposition, securing disinformation from the threat of rational thought. Propaganda is the single most powerful tool employed by the ruling class, but the power is fading. For generations the propagandists enjoyed nearly complete control of the flow of information shaping our opinions and thus controlling our Democracy. That was the world my parents lived in, our circumstances are different.

People are more knowledgeable now than at any point in history. We have access to information like never before, news archives, search engines, global communication, instant messengers, social networks, blogs, and a comment section on every corner. Welcome to the information era, where the people have a voice, and Democracy is rising.

James Hovland, a product of freedom

Imperialism is not a partisan issue, democratic or republican. This filthy imperialist country should be wiped off the map, by its own citizens who having looked at the past 240 years realized this country is hopelessly unredeemable. The best thing to do is disband it into 6 or 7 smaller countries. If the citizenry does not accept this fact somewhere down the road the world will probably do the right thing and collectively wipe this country off the map through force.

You live in a fantasy world , this corrupt imperialist country is going to spit on by the world collectively. Talking about democracy in a country where corporations own everything. As if every American imperialist foray into another country will just be forgotten by the world. How much money did you make writing this article Larry? You are bought and paid for, a corporate slave.

Democracy succeeds better in some countries because there are laws that force those that do not believe that people are all equal to treat others as equals, or at least attempt to. The US still has bigotry, but other parts of the world have far worse. In South America a lot of countries have people that look down on people from other South American countries. In Iraq one group looks down at another, and is more than willing to kill them. Then there's Iran and some others who would just as soon terminate Israel. This is not the kind of mentality where democracy works.

You want democracy to work? There's a simple and effective way to do that; teach by example. Make people stand up and notice how government works for the people. But W hasn't done that, he's made it work for Halliburton and other corporations. By example W has proven democracy is a crock. Joe Average is getting the bill for bailout after bailout without a voice in DC. This is rather ironic given that one of the US's original grievances was "no taxation without representation." Joe Average should not be paying taxes anymore, he has no representatives in DC.

And you can't spread democracy via hypocrisy.

http://cafr1.com/BiggestGameInTown.html - - - This was recorded in 2000. WOW! A real financial eye opener. I wonder how long my little post will be on here? Get your tinfoil hat in order

Businessmen and officials whom having the power have succeeded in Russia in a democracy failure or money bypasses and muddles the law. Businessmen have established at the enterprises modes on the Stalin sample (has told the opinion - it is dismissed!).Democracy has turned to (dung)cracy.
And Americans very democratically bomb citizens of other countries. (Serbia, Iraq, and others.)

USA will teach the world about democracy? America is a global dictatorship that has no respect for international law and the UN. In America democracy simply means a government that bows to the American empire.

Latin America is "anti" american because interfere in their internal issues and establish coups in democratic countries as soon as their leadership stops to obey the American empire.

Russia is authoritan? Why is America pushing NATO on Russias border? Why is America building army bases and placing troops on their borders? Why did America arrange a coup in Georgia '03 and Ukraine '04 and is now desperately trying to drag them into NATO, despite majority of Europeans and Ukrainians being against it? Why is America placing missile defence system in Poland and Czech Republic despite the majority there opposing it?

Democracy has ot failed, only America

Mr. Diamond, you missed the most obvious example of a back-sliding democracy - the United States.

Consider that the Bush administration managed to circumvent the Electoral College by voter fraud, suspended the writ of habeas corpus with regard to prisoners and resorted to torture of those prisoners, ignored the laws that have to do with illegal search and seizure and bypassed both the legislative and judicial branches of government by refusing to obtain required warrants for phone records, invaded another nation that had not attacked us first by lying to the American public, and perhaps the best, had the VP arbitrarily decide he was not a member of the executive branch and was therefore exempt from subpeona and due process

Talk about democratic contraction!.

Even our long-cherished belief of separation of church and state has eroded as militant evangelicals have tried to impose a narrow, hate-filled view of Christianity on the FDA, CDC, HHS, and EPA - pharmacists don't have to fill prescriptions for morning-after pills if it violates their religious beliefs, global warming doesn't exist, abstinence-only sex ed is the law of the land, and stem-cell research is banned, all in the name of championing "Christian values."

You contend that "old assumptions???that democracy required Western values, high levels of education and a large middle class???crumbled" when in fact, those very assumptions have been proven correct. We have declining levels of education and a declining middle class, and democracy as we have practiced it for decades in this country has been circumvented by the Arrogant/Ignorant neocons from Texas.

If we wish to advance the cause of democracy, we should lead by example. The democracy that needs the most shoring up is our own.

It seems to me that criticising Democracy is a convenient proxy for America bashing. As the only superpower left in a fractious political climate filled with petty resentments, America comes in for criticism when local figures & issues are insurmountable. Really, what does Pakistan, Afganistan, Russia or France really know of America?

Very little.

Instead, citizens and politcians of these these states (and others) use America & Democracy as convenient whipping posts whenever unaccountable forces & incompetence run amok.

This article completely ignores the fact that there are vested interests that would not find Democracy in their best interest and would do everything in their power to prevent it, assassination come to mind.
Russia is a poor example. It was never going to become a Democracy, the KGB was going to see to that. They allowed some semblance of Democracy for awhile and once the dust settled started to tighten control again. So in deference to Mr. Diamond there is another whole side to this equation that few even discuss, bad guys don't voluntarily give up their power for someone else's ideal.
Democracies don't get formed in a year or two and usually take a generation to form and forever to keep. Corruption and Lack of education can take it away overnight.

The real problem is what we have in this country is a false democracy, that word is thrown about but the hard cold fact is it is all but non existent.
The constitution clearly states "by the people, For the People and the definition of Democracy echoes those words.
Wikipedia states "Democracy is a form of government in which power is held by people under a free electoral system.???
Granted we have the electoral system but it stops there. I can personally attest to the fact the Government once elected chose to represent them selves and the government.
The current economic crisis is largely the result of the effort by Republicans for the most part to drive down wages effectively eliminating the middle class.
The IRS will select those Americans who chose to follow the high idea of free enterprise only to be harassed out of business by endless audits that always end in the unfortunate soul paying more than is actually due. If I or anyone else were to do that we would be incarcerated for fraud and extortion, but if the government does it it's legal. The law does not apply to the general population and government employees equally.
And we have the Rupert Murdock???s with $900 million in income and pay not a dime in tax. Not to mention the likes of Enron or Madoff. Who the IRS simply ignores.
I know of what could only be considered a crime by the California State Government but when the individual sought help from the California Attorney General he was told it was the duty of the Attorney General to defend the Government.
A second generation politician who has never read the Constitution, those three important words the government ignores "For the People"
It is possible Obama may make some headway he is after all a Constitutional Law Professor and is saying the right things, but until we have a real change in the mind set of most if not all government employees elected or other wise he is but a straw in the wind.

Great article...today's headlines are enough to see that things need to change, and quickly; Russia and Ukraine oil talks could lead to some very damaging effects in the Soviet Bloc and Western Europe / Israel and the Palestinians are doing more damage to each other than has been done in decades and it seems likely to get worse / The US as a whole is about to file for Chapter 11 like if it's an airline / Chavez and the Chinese are both giving more money and help to other South American countries than the US can which in turn the trust and confidence those countries held in us is going over to these "great examples of government". As cliche as it sounds in light of Obama's campaign slogan, Change is really what this country needs and fast. New ideas to Change the US's image worldwide and at the same time promote a more stable democratic plan for struggling democracies and fledgling governments is what is needed in this global economy. At no point in human history has the world as a whole been interdependent of one another. All I know is that I would not like to be in Obama's shoes. He definitively has some "big marbles" taking on the toughest job in town.