democracy

The Fix for Fake News? Give us Tools, not Censorship.

Restrictions on free speech are all the craze now in Western Democracies (Demockrazies?). In the US, we’ve got the various “protect the people from fake news” initiatives. Of course, the self-appointed and designated “protectors” are Corporate and Government entities, mixed with billionaires who think they are as good and wise as Buddha, Solomon, and all the Saints. (Said blessing comes with one’s first billion dollars, apparently.)

Six Simple Ideas to Strengthen Democracy in America

Ms. Liberty Bears Six Good Ideas

Fair and reliable elections, an informed citizenry, wide participation in governance -- these are cornerstones of democracy. But the recent election in the U.S.A. has pointed out serious cracks in those stones. Gerrymandered districts weakened voters of one party, and made races non-competitive. Recently-erected hurdles stopped many from voting. Big media focused on the horse race, and ignored policy issues. Persons trafficked in misleading and fake news on social media. And, in the end, demagogy and crackpottery carried the day. What follows are six simple ideas that can, I think, be easily implemented, and that might well go a long way toward fixing those cracks and strengthening our democracy.

Letter to a Friend

This essay is really just a slightly edited email reply I sent to an old friend I’ve known since grammar school. I’ll be 81 next month and he’s a year older so it isn’t as if we haven’t had time and experience enough to analyze what is going on in our lives, our country, our planet, and our minds. I’m afraid I just let my annoyance show, but I think it may just be time. The paragraphs between the asterisks are the pertinent part of an email he sent me.

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Anti-Capitalist Meetup: On the Corbyn Phenomenon

A couple of days ago, I was discussing with some friends how would we describe the situation in the Labour Party; was it a movement, a revolution, how could we describe it? I am not comfortable with the term “revolution” as I think it plays into false usage of the term; it is a much misused term being used to describe almost any change that occurs.

A Response - This Election is Irrelevant - by the RantingRooster

Revolutions through out history, while not all the same in nature or cause, do have a common thread that runs through every revolution, the disenchantment of the masses. This isn't to say that just because we don't agree with the prevailing Zeitgeist, we should over turn the apple cart so to speak. I firmly believe that we have to expose the prevailing Zeitgeist for the fraud that it truly is, through a sustained information campaign, ie a propaganda war if you will.

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