Democracy: a forgotten view... Part I

This entry will be slightly more serious. It's something I've been talking with my closeones. Just think of it as stemming from Thai political issues (and others around the world). So here is its first public appearance!

Democracy: a forgotten view
Part I

Democracy (from greek "demokratia") a word derived from greek "demos", meaning people, and "kratein", meaning to rule. Thus the whole word means literally "people rule". However, democracy as most undstand it today rather means "majority rule". Two things come to my mind, when talking about this modern definition of democracy: "tyranny of the majority" and "segregations".

Pure (direct) domocracy requires participation of individual citizens. Thus a citizen comes independently, and act independently as his virtue dictates. He listens to issues, he contemplates the issues, then he votes on the issues. Therefore, even a minority will has the right to be heard, and to be considered on, and thus voted on. Yes the final verdict is often decided by the majority vote, but not the majority as social group. Remember, all citizens should consider the issue at hand independently.

After evolutions of some two thousands year, we are now in an era where "people rule" is transformed into "majority rule". This brings me to the first point, "tyranny of the majority".

Depending on economic and social environment, herd behavior could be strong. In modern system of democracy, one only needs to pin down a common interest, manipulate it, and voila! Favorable election result appears. One common theme is fear. If you could find a common enemy that threaten the "majority", you are almost ascertained a victor.

Another recurring theme is self-sympathy. People could be really sypathetic when it comes down to themselves. Being a victim generates such feelings. And yes, being a victim is what we all like to be from time to time. Pick the right time, tell them the right stories, make them feel victimized, and again you'd emerge as a popular candidate.

So where is my concern leading us. Above are mere simple examples that, for example Nazi or Populist regimes in Latin America employ (some even argue that Bush plays with fear of terrorism in the past election, but I rather not get too political). Modern democracy leads to majority, while majority leads to power. Nothing guarantees that the majority will do the right thing! In this instance, we have the so-called "tyranny of the majority".

Be careful. When you are caught in the majority, step back and think twice. It is easy to comply to majority, but is difficult to be critical. Do U-NO when you are among herds?

Often times a herd is what we are stuck in. Wouldn't rather be heding than be herded?