The Democratic Government

From "oxymoronica"

If our democracy is to flourish, it must have criticism;
if our government is to function, it must have dissent.

Henry Steele Commager, Freedom, Loyalty, and Dissent, 1954

The historian knows of this inclination of past successful societies, that change is at the heart of endurance. "Reform, that you may preserve," said Thomas Babington Macaulay. In the heart of the patriot is a place for dissent, for "... in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law" (Martin Luther King).

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Corrupt government

From the Facebook.com page of Daniel De Bonis:

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

Often attributed to Abraham Lincoln

Indeed, in the United States we have, since this quote was given, reached this critical democratic problem twice: once in the late 1800's- early 1900's, when this economic crisis was relieved during the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, and today, in the early 21st Century. The U.S. Constitution allows the people to take recourse if we believe our Republican form of government needs fundamental correction; the U.S. Bill of Rights asserts this right for all of its citizens. As happened 100 years ago, we in the U.S.A. may rightfully restore our democratic system from the corrupting hands of the monied few.

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Faith and the Roman Empire

From "The World's Great Letters"

Well may we be unhappy, for it is our sins that have made the barbarians strong; as in the days of Hezekiah, so today is God using the fury of the barbarian to execute His fierce anger. Rome's army, once the lord of the world, trembles today at sight of the foe.

Saint Jerome, letter to a friend, 410A.D.

"... the wolves of the North have been let loose..." writes Saint Jerome as he hears of the first sack of Rome. Among his accomplishments was the first translation of the Holy Bible into latin, the Vulgate; Saint Jerome had lived much of the first 70 years of his life under the safe and wealthy governance of the "mother of nations." And yet his Christian faith assures his eternal service to the one eternal God- he tells this tale after the second sack "to those that come after..."

"... so that they may know that even in the midst of swords and deserts and wild beasts virtue is never made a captive, and that he who has surrendered himself to Christ may be slain but cannot be conquered."

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Liberty

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

Liberty is the right to do whatever the law permits.

Montesquieu, De l'esprit des lois, 1748

Politically speaking, the rule of thumb is: the less laws one is under, the more liberty he has. To measure one's liberties, one has to consider the number and weight of the laws, rules and regulations his government has imposed on him. To increase or decrease one's liberties, one must advocate for the respective decrease or increase of such laws; this applies to all levels of government, from local to international.

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The coarseness of government

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

The Government of the World is a great thing, but it is a very coarse one, too, compared with the fineness of speculative knowledge.

Marquess of Halifax, Moral thoughts and reflections, late 17th-C

Planks of political platforms are very narrow stands on major societal problems. But, there is a value in various viewpoints for healthy legislative debate. The two dominant political parties in the US government include many caucuses within them with their own platforms, but their respective national platforms are staid. Healthy democratic elections enjoy competition among more platforms- more caucuses for party primaries, and, more "parties" (major, minor and/or independent) for general election.

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The people and government

From "The Oxford Book of Aphorisms"

There has never been a perfect government, because men have passions; and if they did not have passions, there would be no need for government.

Voltaire, Politique et legislation: Idees republicaines, 18th-C

We have a government of, by and for the people; because of this, there will always be a terse, yes, perhaps cynical, eye on government from the people. An open democracy in a republican form of government requires a dispassionate concern for the people by the government.

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