Democracy

Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system. It is derived from a Greek word that means "popular government." In it's original form, there were no defined human rights or legal restraints upon the actions of assembly.

In political theory, democracy describes a small number of related forms of government and also a political philosophy. Even though there is no universally accepted definition of 'democracy', there are two principles that any definition of democracy includes. The first principle is that all members of the society have equal access to power and the second that all members enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.

Having thought about the governmental system in the USA the past couple days - I'm no longer convinced it is a "Democracy". I hear you muttering and see you rolling your eyes... but when the government gets approval ratings markedly less than 30% you might think the elected ones are no longer listening to "the people" nor do they care to. I find it laughable that our government claims to be in Iraq to secure democracy for Iraqi citizens... how about starting at home???

I won't even get to deeply into things like the archaic Electoral College. In the United States, the only current example of an indirectly elected executive president, the electoral college is made up of electors representing the 50 states and one federal district. The electors generally cast their votes according to the winner of the popular vote in their respective states, but are not required by law to do so.

Who are these people and how to they get selected?

The Founding Fathers set things up this way as a hedge in the case the Republic they were framing didn't work properly and the larger states (by population) took power away from the smaller ones. The very existence of this "safe-guard" means this country does not have a system of equality in with respect to vote (and therefore is not a democracy.)

I offer the following in the spirit of "might the change I suggest make things better"?

How about requiring those running for some other office resign and step down from any office they may hold when they announce their candidacy? Did the voters in New York (Clinton), Delaware (Biden), Illinois (Obama), and Arizona (McCain) get represented properly while these folks were on the campaign trail for months and months? And who is running the show in Alaska (Palin) these days?

I also want to present this, the seniority system in Congress, whereby positions on powerful committees are assigned is antithetical to democracy in that it allows unreasonable amount of power be held by those that are repeatedly re-elected. A true democracy wouldn't have some people thinking "we need term-limits" because some "old farts" get re-elected time and time again and they change the balance of power from that of "equal voice for all" to that of the voice of the "old (and some of them quite doddering) fart's club". If committee memberships were assigned by merit or even at random, irrespective of seniority - perhaps something good would happen?

Take Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, for example. An 84 year-old convicted felon that might win re-election regardless of being convicted seven times over - the only reason his candidacy is still viable is that his seniority places him in important and powerful committee positions. At best, the man is so feeble-minded he couldn't track a quarter million dollars in gifts given to him in his own home and at worse he is a wicked man simply corrupted by prolonged exposure to power - either way, is he someone YOU want representing YOU and in charge of YOUR hard earned tax dollars?

If he is re-elected, the Senate may, but it doesn't HAVE to, expel him. Accountability, credibility and integrity aren't exactly their watchwords you know. It seems like it's Justice for All - but themselves.

To expect careerist politicians to vote for, and pass some sort of term-limit law is like expecting money to fall from the sky the next time it rains - it's not going to happen. A true Democracy would have a way to hold a national referendum, and a way to abolish the electoral college, seniority, and other shenanigans that stand in the way of a person thinking his or hers vote actually counts - as opposed to the all-mighty dollar simply buying the way into the old boy's club by the "elite few". Can an Constitutional Amendment removing seniority or implementing term-limits be shoved through the Congress today?

I know this is my opinion and some of you will disagree - and having *that* ability is what democracy is all about.

Scribbles and Jots

Jess, a delightful, cheery, young woman who's writings belies her age at Smiles in Easy Open Packages awarded me the Prestigious Superior Scribbler Award! I know we can expect great things from Jess in the future - perhaps even a Pulitzer Prize or two.



Little did she know that I actually do scribble possible new entries on a little three-ring tablet paper while out walking or while eating. I've even been known to scribble on a napkin (and then throw the napkin away by mistake, probably much to your relief); and to text message myself with an "inspired idea" for later; and to get out of the morning's steaming hot shower looking for a place to scribble something down. Hard earned experience has taught me toilet paper is really horrible for scribbling down things, especially when you are dripping wet.

There are so many worthy folks to give this award to, I had a terrible time picking just four, and then I noticed in its first awarding, Mr. Linky, the award's founder, gave out five! So I'm going use this as a loophole in the rules to do the same. My only solace will be that those that I can't name, will likely be named by the others that I know.

Tori_z at TorizWorld

Tori is an inspiration to all of us - with her being able to blog and comment on other's blogs without being able to see. She and her courage is a shining role model for me.

ChicagoLady at I Don't Care What You Say Anymore, This Is My Life

ChicagoLady claims writes about the unexciting things that happen to her in her life - little did she know how that tickles the Creative Moose in me. A toast: "Here to scribbling about the picayune!"

SugarBush at Sugar Bush Squirrelly

A relative "Charlie-come-lately" to the blogging world, Sugar is a my secret crush, even if she didn't write anymore, I'd visit her blog just to look at her.

Lainie at What's This Do?

Lainie has this remarkable knack for writing extra special blog titles - titles that make me smile. Even if she wrote nothing but titles, I'd go and read her scribbles.

MarmiteToasty at Twaddle Everyday Rubbish

I don't even know how to begin to describe this zany woman. Faced with an ugly knee surgery gone bad, she presents to the world an amazing, beyond humorous, wonderful slice of life from southern England. Her pictures which are remarkable, match her zany scribbles - which she calls twaddle, but don't let that fool you!



Enjoy your awards! Here is what you're suppose to do but if you don't want to (and I know some of you aren't "rule followers") you don't have to, I'll still read every thing you ever write for as long as you write them!

1) Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to their most-deserving Bloging Friends.

2) Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

3) Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains The Award.

4) Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

5) Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Gypsy

I've been looking at Gypsy-Heart's blog and been introduced to her dog Ringo.

This is a picture of the last dog that was in my family.



I found her at the local SPCA looking back through the cage door at me so forlornly I couldn't leave her. Her name was Gypsy and she was a coal black, brown eyed, Black Labrador and Border Collie mix. She had the sunny, happy go lucky disposition of a Black Labrador and the smarts of a shrewd Border Collie. She and I were unseparable. She came to work with me everyday and lay at my feet while I typed user manuals, wrote computer programs, discussed things with clients and took long walks with me on weekends.

I had to put her to sleep on Thanksgiving Day several years ago as she had intestinal cancer and business was bad so I could not afford the Vet bill. When I had to let her go, I felt as if I had failed her - and to this day, I've been unable to bring myself to get another dog - even from the SPCA.

Given how much I like 'em...

And that it is that time of year...



I present you, Boobees!


Please don't heckle me - I e-mailed Bruce (the fellow mentioned a couple entries ago) yesterday telling him I was thinking about him and his sister Mary.

This is what Mary sent me!