Name: Reich 2007-11-08 11:48
Historically, democracy never seems to have lasted more than 500 years at the most. It always gets dominated by the economy or military. It seems more and more, as well, that power is becoming concentrated on finance as never before. It may be that in not long (it's happening already) we'll see a serious power-shift into something of a corporate kleptocracy.
But back to the point, is it ever really possible to have a lasting 'democracy' where the wishes of a majority are respected and observed?
I'm thinking, increasingly, not. To me, late 19th/20th century parliamentary democracy resulted more due to the dilution of stronger dictatorial powers into an elected 'representative' body than one that is truly representative.
As long as we have capital, it can be expected that bourgeousie democracy will collapse under its own weight, with terrible reactionary movements in its wake (e.g. 1930s/40s fascism, Brazil and other south american governments where POPULARLY ELECTED governments have been kicked out due to the financial interests of foreign powers and the [financially] ruling classes. Long live DIRECT democracy. Long live the honourable intentions and ideas of Lenin (not marx... He was tripping, he hadn't realised 19th century industrialism was a temporary phase and that things would get better first, before sliding into hell). Long live communism!
But back to the point, is it ever really possible to have a lasting 'democracy' where the wishes of a majority are respected and observed?
I'm thinking, increasingly, not. To me, late 19th/20th century parliamentary democracy resulted more due to the dilution of stronger dictatorial powers into an elected 'representative' body than one that is truly representative.
As long as we have capital, it can be expected that bourgeousie democracy will collapse under its own weight, with terrible reactionary movements in its wake (e.g. 1930s/40s fascism, Brazil and other south american governments where POPULARLY ELECTED governments have been kicked out due to the financial interests of foreign powers and the [financially] ruling classes. Long live DIRECT democracy. Long live the honourable intentions and ideas of Lenin (not marx... He was tripping, he hadn't realised 19th century industrialism was a temporary phase and that things would get better first, before sliding into hell). Long live communism!