Democracy Dies in the Blinding Light of Day - 0 views
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outcome of the election may not have been a product of sober public reason — a necessary element of a fully functioning democracy
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kimhoss on 13 Jul 18To what means will one go to obtain power? (loaded question which can be answered in many ways based on varying events, conflicts, and histories which define our past... But what does it mean for leaders to run with honor, truth, and integrity? Are these basic characteristics no longer most important to Americans, to the individual? But instead does it come down to popularity, immorality, and intimidation as the characteristics that define our "leaders" and are supported by Americans? Has there always been a lack of empathy and lack of morals?
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George Orwell in “1984,” democracy is bludgeoned into submission by totalitarian brutality. In many ways, it was the competing post-democratic vision of Aldous Huxley, articulated in his famous novel “Brave New World,” that seems to be closer to fruition. Huxley argued that freedom would be slowly eaten alive by technological change and an insatiable public appetite for entertainment. Reflecting on that possibility in his 1985 book, “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business,” cultural critic Neil Postman wrote, “As he” — Huxley — “saw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.”
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Orwell and Huxley - it is interesting how stories written in the past about the future become the ideas, perspectives, and truths of our reality today... Individuals have become oppressed bystanders in our society today, due to the love and satisfaction they gain from the use and presence of today's technologies (not the only reason but a big contributor) People cannot or rather don't think for themselves. Their brains cannot process ideas, perspectives, scenarios as it is meant to, imaginatively because it is blocked by the bombardment of news, tweets, statuses, and fomo which comes from the over presence of technology use.
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But it seems ridiculous that in this time of incredible change that the future of politics has only one possible path or set of options. Coming out of the 1990s and the end of the Cold War, political choice seemed very limited. But now the future is wide open. And there is some hope in that.”
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Enjoyed the article. I feel the need to share with others as it makes you think about the past, present and obviously the future. Pretty powerful points made which I have highlighted and comment on throughout. Although I am not very argumentative, I can say that democracy has withstood for much longer than many in the past had prescribed and I think as a society we are changing and will continue to change and that is necessary - what was defined and meant in one way in the past is not exactly best defined in that way today. I will be honest to say I don't like change but it is necessary and important for those who are a part of change to be knowledgeable and aware of the process. Democracy is not dead. One cannot return from the dead, but instead it is and has changed and needs to be challenged and needs to be altered to fit the advancing society of today.
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