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Democracy [ Greek: demos
(people) karatos (rule) ]
rule by the people. Power lies with the people
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Oligarchy
[ Greek: oligo (few) arkhos (rule) ]
a form of government where most or all political power effectively
rests with a small segment of society
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In our times, as the
people elect their
leaders - these
leaders immediately
become placed above
those who have
elected them, those
they are supposed to
work for. This is
because our ideology
and practice of
democracy is still
in its infancy.
Our current system
allows a small group
of individuals to
amass great power
over the populace.
The individuals who
are elected suddenly
find themselves
within a tight
community, within
"political circles".
These circles of
power are
centralised and as a
result an elite is
immediately formed.
This is not a
conspiracy but a
reflection of our
primitive
manifestation of
what democracy is.
Those in the elite
(those in
government) believe
they are in the best
position to make
decisions for the
Whole (the people).
Yet who is this
elite but ordinary
individuals who have
been elected?
Due to
centralisation and
hierarchy, the
elected are quite
distant from the
people that elected
them resulting in
them becoming less
and less responsible
and accountable for
their decisions.
Subsequently, the
people are seen as
the unruly masses
that need to be
controlled and
looked after - much
as a shepherd herds
his sheep.
Ultimately, the
needs of the few
eclipse the needs of
the many - leading
to a situation where
the people's needs
are obviously not
being met. Here the
only power that the
people have comes
during the times of
election.
A true democracy
would engage the
people in all parts
of politics. A true
democratic process
would actively
encourage the
participation of the
populace. A true
democracy recognises
that it is the
masses that should
harbour the power,
not the few. For
through individual
power, the masses as
a whole serve each
other.
However, what is
crucial is the
recognition that it
is the people who
always have the
power! It is the
people that allow
any situation to
occur, whether it be
a political
structure or a
societal norm. Any
government or
structure stands on
the shoulders of its
people. If the
people are asleep
then the governments
and structures can
act as they wish.
However, if the
people shift, then
so does the
government! This is
the Power of the
People!
What we must
recognise on a daily
level is that it is
both our actions as
well as our
inactions that lead
to the current state
of our society and
of course the
planet. If we
harbour apathy about
the political
process and our
place in it then it
allows for the abuse
of our power and
ultimately we give
our power away to
governments and
institutions.
However, if we do
this - if we decide
to refrain from the
political process -
then it is vitally
important that we
realise that having
given away our
power, we are
responsible for
every decision and
action that our
government makes.
It is time to
recognise that you
have power every
single day of your
lives to make a
difference. There
are ways to change
policies but you
have simply been
taught that you
can't make a
difference. Despite
the current system
being a poor
reflection of true
democracy, there are
still powerful tools
you can use to
change policies and
the very nature of
democracy into a
much more evolved
one.
Write to your
MP/Senator to make a
difference.
This website is
based on creating
peace through
compassion.
Click
here to read more
about Compassionate
Activism | 
Your
Local MP or Senator
is obliged to
answer any letter
you write to them!
