For several years now I´ve been thinking about what really is the so called Democracy.
In theory it should be a system of social organization in which everyone would have the same level of social power regarding the definition of the path the collective would follow. the same power, the same privileges, the same responsibilities.
In theory, this system would take a bunch of fragile individuals and would then turn them into a strong single entity, with its path defined at all moments by the will of the majority (yes, democracy is the tyranny of the majority... but still is a lot better than the tyrannies of the minorities that have been experimented in quite a lot of failed governmental programs all around the world, since the cave age).
... but, although this "democracy" system was apparently almost perfect, one huge problem has arisen... with a population growing at an incredible rate, listening to everybody´s opinion before deciding something soon became an impossible task... the collective would become paralyzed.
... the only solution our ancestors found was to create a "representative" (instead of the original "participatory democracy") model... the cost of this decision was enormous although no better option was presented by anybody.
... it was enormous mainly because the human nature is not as perfect as we all would like it to be.
By having many giving their "social power" to a few, we have put those few in a position of great concentrated power and influence and, obviously, highly vulnerable to pressures coming from other powerful "private" representatives.
The world today is ruled by politicians that are chosen by their parties to then be voted by all of us (yes, the large majority of us do not vote on the best alternative, we vote on the "less bad" politician among the ones selected by their parties)... and these politicians, in turn, and despite any noble intentions they eventually have, are completely overwhelmed by the pressure, the logic, the interests, the (concentrated financial) power of those "private", corporate representatives.
So... what can we, general citizens of the world, do about this?
How can we fight against groups of a few extremely wealthy people, that can enter a meeting room and decide plans that affect millions of us in a half-an-hour meeting?
To be able to be at the same level, we need to put millions of persons on a "giant room", everybody yelling their opinions about an enormous quantity of subjects, finding a common platform of action and then amassing all the few coins everybody has in their pocket to ensure we raise a comparable level of financial power... easy, huh? :)
... well, it really seems an impossible mission, it´s true :(
... but, for a moment, think with me...
Presently, for the first time in the history of mankind, we have the (technological) tools that allow us to implement a true participatory democracy.
... tools like "+1" or "Like" are true participatory democratic tools.
... if you go to http://www.google.com/moderator/ you will find a perfect example of a participatory democratic process... the users bring their concerns to the list, and the same users use their vote (positive, negative or neutral) on each/any one of those listed items.
... now imagine that system being used on proposals, discussions and eventual approvals of the laws that affect all of us, in each of our countries.
... Personally I would vote on any party proposing not their plans for the society, but rather offering themselves to be in the political arena with a laptop receiving in real time the results of the votes of all citizens they would represent.
... the common people would not know how to choose wisely?... investing more in better education would resolve that limitation.
For years now I believe this will be the government of the future... a government made of millions (it will be difficult for the corporations to know whom to bribe), all of them deciding in real time about any laws that they feel important to their lives, with discussion groups where our scientists explain to all of us the pros and cons of each proposal, and with the politicians assuming their fair role in the process... not the role of leaders but the role of employees of the collective.
... it will take time, tears and almost for sure, blood :( ... but the collective conscience is already quite strong (via these social networks) and the will to change the way societies are organized is becoming generalized all over the globe.
... unless our civilization suffers a terrible regression, the technology is already here... and true democracy is already possible.
... is there a better dream? :)
P.S. please forgive me any errors in the sentences... English is not my primary language.
