Vic Pesiko asks:

Can you name a place where there exists a real democracy?
Was ever such a place in history?
What is "Real democracy"?
Lastly, can such a system survive?

Four good questions Vic.  You don't want a book and I don't have time to try and write one. 

Can you name a place where there exists a real democracy?
The divine right of kings has almost everywhere been replaced by the divine right of money and power.  Democracy is claimed everywhere but is notable in the breach rather than in the fact.  Many parts of the world have more modern systems of government than the USA.  That usually means that the system is more democratic too.  (It's not the USA's fault that it's system is old, just a fact.  It's also a fact the USA seems stuck with what it has until some huge disaster occurs that forces change. ) Systems in many parts of Europe, New Zealand, Australia, parts of Brazil, small parts of India are making fairly good attempts to be democratic. 

Was ever such a place in history?
Probably not, unless Switzerland counts.  City government in some parts of Brazil.  In New Zealand we came fairly close to success, but the two party team tried to corrupt the system in their own favour.  They were partly successful.  We've still got some work to do too.

  

What is "Real democracy"?
I'm looking for a system that is responsive to experience and to the needs of the population.  Political parties need to free of undue influence caused by excesses of money or power.  Political parties need to be free of the need to appease dictates some foreign power.  There needs to be independently compiled electoral roles, and electoral boundaries should not be controlled by political parties.  Every vote should count.  First past the post systems are blunt instruments that entrench two party power and reduce both political debate and choice.  A real democracy has citizens who know they have an effective voice, it's much more than the opportunity to vote.  It's not something that's easy to develop, even if most parties are willing. 

Lastly, can such a system survive?
Historically the elite of every country have tried to stop a general franchise.  There was a revolution in the UK when a vote for all adult males was first proposed.  New Zealand was the first country in the world to give all women the vote, (1896 I think.) but it was a cynical ploy by the party in power to retain power.  In more recent times, in NZ, 18 year old people were give access to liquor outlets and the vote, also as a way the existing government tried to retain power.  The elite always claim the if the common man had real power disaster would follow.  I don't see the evidence of that.  Look almost everywhere, you see the opposite.  Actions by the powers that be to stop people from having a proper voice in their government is something that's all too common.  That's been the history of South America for 200 years.  Elsewhere too of course.  Even in the USA where stopping blacks from voting has been a common practice up to recent elections.  Making sure they are not on the roll helps a lot.  Gerrymandered electoral districts make the voting process in too many places an open joke.  We won't begin to talk about how funding processes influence political futures and deny any chance of proper public process.

A strong United Nations with strong international law might make it possible for more countries to develop proper democratic institutions.  Haiti, has been continually undermined for over 100 years, firstly because "blacks" couldn't be trusted to govern themselves, and later because ever attempt for the locals to stand up for themselves was branded as "communist" and put down.  See the same thing happening now regarding Venezuela.  There can be no progress to democracy if every effort by people to be independent and self-governing is repressed. 

Regards
John
Veech Innovation Network

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