Liberal Democracy

[poliphilo]

Western Liberal Democracy tolerates and even protects those who desire its downfall. That's its nature.  It cannot launch pre-emptive strikes against its internal enemies without destroying itself. 

It values freedom of speech so highly it allows the speech that could bring it down.

It accepts that freedom cannot be defended by curtailing freedom.

It gambles on goodwill always being stronger than evil will, on love being stronger than hate.

It is prepared to take risks with its own security.

Its enemies call it weak; it would be more accurate to call it complacent in its strength.

It may seem fragile, but it is held together by a balance of forces, by tension- like a gothic cathedral or a suspension bridge.

We should be proud of it. 

For all its faults, it is the best society we've built- as yet.

Comments

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Very well said. It outlines those tenets which are both the strengths nd the weaknesses of Western Liberal Democracy, those which we praise and which we also deplore.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[pecosbill.livejournal.com]

Why can't some people see all that? I'm talking about people who call themselves patriots and lovers of freedom; who would be willing to sacrifice everything, including our freedom, to save our freedom. I see such a strong authoritarian streak in conservatism, neo or otherwise, such a strong desire to attack those who are different, who don't fit in.

I certainly agree with your ideas here and also that they are very well said.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Super patriots are often in love with a dream version of their country and not with the thing itself.

Towards the end of his life John Wayne was so disgusted with the USA that he seriously considered moving to Mexico.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

I did not know that. I'm wondering whose policies made him feel that way. Ever since the Vietnam War and the Watergate thing there have been extreme switches from time to time.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

How funny... I was thinking the same thing about the extreme other side. :)

[mummm.livejournal.com]

I like this... though I am not sure if you are talking about Britain or the US?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm talking in general terms. I trust it applies to all Western democracies.

Of course Britain is the one I know best.

[mummm.livejournal.com]

It's excellent.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[oakmouse]

Very good; well-stated also.

I think it's a measure of the trouble that Western democracy is in at present that it's falling away from several of those difficult yet worthwhile ideals.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I believe we're in serious danger of giving up on our liberties.

[oakmouse]

We've already given up some of them. The question is whether or not we can manage to get them back.

The bureaucrats who are happy to strip away your second premise are getting so absurd that they're likely to spark a serious rebellion. Things like the five-hole salt shaker episode are fairly over the top. Once rebellion against the silly little tyrannies begins, it may lead to a broader groundswell.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard about the five hole salt shaker. What's that all about?

America has been through worse, more repressive times- the McCarthy era for example. Sooner or later- maybe under president Obama (God willing)- you'll get your groove back.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Well, it looks like he has switched on most of the key points in his platform (see my journal for today - it's copied from the New York Times). What we really do NOT want is four more years of Bush policies.

[oakmouse]

Here's an article about the five-hole salt shakers:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1030164/Now-health-safety-cut-number-holes-chip-shop-salt-shakers.html

I know America has been through worse, and inevitably the pendulum swings back again. I'm just not sure where the end point of the far arc is.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link.

Someone high up in the Council should have said, "They'll laugh at us for this," and killed the project stone dead.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Amen to that! I view with alarm....

[wyrmwwd.livejournal.com]

Well said. It is I have always believed. I don't know how the U.S. got so screwed up, but I am doing everything I can to correct it.

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

And so am I.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

America seems to have these massive mood swings- periods of repressive frenzy alternating with periods of libertarian cool. I'm confident the pendulum will swing back.