(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



Defending democracy ? [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-12-20  

The presumed inevitable outcome of the 2016 electoral pageant did not play out as planned. Today those citing the inevitable results of the 2024 electoral pageant are exhibiting a similar hubristic delusion.



Citizens in general may not be as dedicated or informed as those participating here or on similar forums regardless of political flavor but are neither as stupid nor complacent as many suppose. Granted there is a great deal of evidence of effective conditioning that might lead to that conclusion but it is a serious mistake to underestimate both the scope of the problems we face as a nation and the dearth of effective solutions deemed available underlying the discontent of the demos

Simply put a society operating primarily for the benefit of a rapidly contracting number of privileged few at the expense of the far greater majority can only maintain itself through violence.



While the MAGA crowd is easy to ridicule and dismiss it is a fundamental error to ignore the fact they and many other less inclined to become cult members share many of the same concerns as the majority of the nation. The difference is institutional Rs have effectively given up on the premises of democracy in response.



Institutional Ds have taken to the mantra of saving democracy but the definition employed seems too constricted in considering the absence of substantive outcomes.



When Citizens focus on the events of J6, as we certainly must, yet ignore the numerous incidents of insurrection of the 1960s and 70s (and later) we ignore the obvious lessons of recent history.



Almost all of the problems we currently face are symptoms of a failing society. We have allowed concentration of social resources to the point the basic needs, much less what remains of aspirations, of the greater majority of Citizens have become little more than a necessary inconvenience.



Citizens are forced to watch as the unfettered despoliation of the entire biosphere plays out in real time. Increasing numbers of Citizens are forced into systematic conditions of generational poverty. Citizens seeking higher education are forced into de facto conditions of indentured servitude Citizens are forced to accept the mass murder of our children as a requirement of participation jn the daily life. Publicly supported enforcers continue to extrajudicially and summarily execute Citizens. Fully half the population is denied aspects of necessary medical care based solely on the desire to reduce their social status to abject dependency

Each of these issues taken separately is cause for serious concern and action that requires Citizens involvement. Taken together they constitute a picture of outright failure of a the presumed social contract

The predictable response is always “Well, what are we going to do except vote D?” The answer, of course, is obvious. It is also already illegal nationally to state it anywhere

That's our democracy today

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/12/20/2212910/-Defending-democracy?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/