11-23-2024, 08:17 PM
Don't tell me I don't care! 
I am simply daunted by the topic (as you will likely see in my response below)
PS - My anti-spyware went bonkers trying to reach the Harvard site. So please forgive me if I missed out on anything beyond the quote...
Democracy is a construct, a tool which we are still in the process of designing to suit our respective societies. It isn't, in and of itself, "American." People argue endlessly about what democracy is... running back through history to affirm its' heritage. But the principle doesn't speak of nations... only people seeking to live harmoniously in peace among each other.
The intricacies of politics should serve politicians to plumb the depths of the principle problems of democracy, but as we can all see, that's clearly NOT what they are all about.
Why would the slavery which ended the 19th century be of significance, when today's slavery - by many measures 'worse' - doesn't figure into the solution?
I find the allusion to slavery as approaching the level of 'trope' (sort of like obligatory DEI references about gender, and equity, among so many others.)
At some point in useful analysis, we have to divest ourselves of our outrage and angst over the past which we cannot change. I agree that it is not the system that's as broke as we are told. In fact it's not the 'tool'... it's the staff that are "the problem."
They leap at the changes to the system, tweaked for the political moment. That stands as the fuel of most of our governing class' egregious deviations from the "intent" of American democracy. It's a crass generalization, I know... politics is so subtle... so intricate... or so the politicians say.
Sortition, at this point would be a surrender to "blind luck." I am afraid I don't really feel lucky.
I am simply daunted by the topic (as you will likely see in my response below)PS - My anti-spyware went bonkers trying to reach the Harvard site. So please forgive me if I missed out on anything beyond the quote...
Democracy is a construct, a tool which we are still in the process of designing to suit our respective societies. It isn't, in and of itself, "American." People argue endlessly about what democracy is... running back through history to affirm its' heritage. But the principle doesn't speak of nations... only people seeking to live harmoniously in peace among each other.
The intricacies of politics should serve politicians to plumb the depths of the principle problems of democracy, but as we can all see, that's clearly NOT what they are all about.
Why would the slavery which ended the 19th century be of significance, when today's slavery - by many measures 'worse' - doesn't figure into the solution?
I find the allusion to slavery as approaching the level of 'trope' (sort of like obligatory DEI references about gender, and equity, among so many others.)
At some point in useful analysis, we have to divest ourselves of our outrage and angst over the past which we cannot change. I agree that it is not the system that's as broke as we are told. In fact it's not the 'tool'... it's the staff that are "the problem."
They leap at the changes to the system, tweaked for the political moment. That stands as the fuel of most of our governing class' egregious deviations from the "intent" of American democracy. It's a crass generalization, I know... politics is so subtle... so intricate... or so the politicians say.
Sortition, at this point would be a surrender to "blind luck." I am afraid I don't really feel lucky.
