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On DemocracyThe Demise Of DemocracyDemocracy promotes peace, or so this is what some studies suggest and what our current president, G.W. Bush, believes. If this is true, why is it true? Is democracy the best form of government and is it a stable government? Most of us know what democracy is but we often fail to realize that democracy is a changing form of government. Democracy is an idea that is loosely defined and because it cannot be totally defined; democracy reflects primarily what the currently elected leaders define it to be. Democracy is not complete and total freedom; democracy is not a perfect from of government, nor is it free from corruption. Democracy usually reflects the will of the majority but because of politics, democracy can easily be redirected to reflect the will of a vocal minority. This mainly happens because the active and vocal get more attention than the silent majority. Democracy is driven by politics and politics are driven by the desire for power. Power is in getting elected and once elected, staying in power until he or she is ready to leave. The first term is the hardest but after getting elected it is easier for the office holder to get re-elected simply because they have the stage, taxpayer money to place themselves before their constituents, and if faithful to the party, the power of the party. The "ins" have ensured their home-field advantage. The "outs" must fight an unequal battle to replace them. Democracy often fails one class of people just as often as it helps another class of people. Democracy depends on a representative form of government but when our elected officials have the advantage when running for re-election, the people no longer are being properly represented even though they do get to vote. The deck is stacked for the incumbent and, therefore, the people suffer, not from lack of participation but from lack of real choices. The demise of democracy occurs simply be cause the people lose control to the in-office politicians. Because of their position, they can easily attract money, news coverage, and, therefore, name recognition. Democracy cannot flourish when most of out senators are all from one class or profession. Most are lawyers with only a couple of doctors and a few business people thrown in. For democracy to really work, we need all kinds of people to represent us. Professionals become use to seeing things one way, especially professional politicians. Washington DC is not the real world, it is a world of pandering, underhanded dealing, and favoritism all based on money and power. Democracy is in demise simply because our capital has become a clearing house for the selfish and the power brokers. I don’t believe our founding father intended for our elected officials to become career politicians with positions held for 20 or more years. Why? Because power becomes concentrated in those individuals and that strips the people of their representation. Just as the president is term-limited so must be our Congressional people. Two years terms of office should be limited to 8 total years; 6 year terms to 12 total years except during a time of war or national emergency when elections are not feasible. While things have been this way for some time, it is only getting worse. In our early years, there was a better mix of representatives and the professional politician had to have time to evolve. I don’t think our founding fathers envisioned people who would make all of their livelihood by becoming politicians. Politics was suppose to be part-time job and not a person’s ONLY job. The officeholder would have to return home and continue to make a living among the people they represented. In this way, the will of the people rather than the will of a lobbyist or of the party would be represented. Representative government can only be preserved by controlling the power of its representatives. Individual representative power can only be controlled by term limits. Term limits must be enacted to regain a democracy where the people are properly represented. Power must be restored to the people and removed from the political parties and their power-seeking and often corrupt members. Democracy belongs to the people - not the politicians. Author: Don Miller
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2005 Articles
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