Papa Foote, The Old Goat

Jun 2012
8:27 AM EDT

Do We Care?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

Today, It seems appropriate, because "we" live on Earth Planet, and probably "care" for others (or just ourselves!), to go back to the history of Democracy and reflect:

The Old Goat

Democracy (from Greek: ΔημοκρατÎ¯α, from δá¿†μος [dÄ“mos], „Masses", and κρατÎ¯α [krat�a], „Rule", literal: Rules of the Masses) is an egalitarian form of government in which all the citizens of a nation together determine public policy, the laws and the actions of their state, requiring that all citizens (meeting certain qualifications) have an equal opportunity to express their opinion. In practice, "democracy" is the extent to which a given system approximates this ideal, and a given political system is referred to as "a democracy" if it allows a certain approximation to ideal democracy. Although no country has ever granted all its citizens (i.e. including minors) the vote, most countries today hold regular elections based on egalitarian principles, at least in theory. The most common system that is deemed "democratic" in the modern world is parliamentary democracy in which the voting public takes part in elections and chooses politicians to represent them in a Legislative Assembly. The members of the assembly then make decisions with a majority vote. A purer form is direct democracy in which the voting public makes direct decisions or participates directly in the political process. Elements of direct democracy exist on a local level and on exceptions on national level in many countries, though these systems coexist with representative assemblies. The term comes from the Greek word δημοκρατÎ¯α (dÄ“mokrat�a) "rule of the people",[1] which was coined from δá¿†μος (dÄ“mos) "people" and κρατÎ¯α (kratia) "rule", in the middle of the 5th-4th century BC to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens following a popular uprising in 508 BC.[2] Other cultures since Greece have significantly contributed to the evolution of democracy such as Ancient Rome,[3] Europe,[3] and North and South America.[4] The concept of representative democracy arose largely from ideas and institutions that developed during the European Middle Ages and the Age of Enlightenment and in the American and French Revolutions.[5] The right to vote has been expanded in many jurisdictions over time from relatively narrow groups (such as wealthy men of a particular ethnic group), with New Zealand the first nation to grant universal suffrage for all its citizens in 1893. Elements considered essential to democracy include freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press, so that citizens are adequately informed and able to vote according to their own best interests as they see them. The term "democracy" is often used as shorthand for liberal democracy, which may include elements such as political pluralism; equality before the law; the right to petition elected officials for redress of grievances; due process; civil liberties; human rights; and elements of civil society outside the government. Democracy is often confused with the republic form of government. In some definitions of "republic," a republic is a form of democracy. Other definitions make "republic" a separate, unrelated term.[6

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Gender / Age: Male, 79

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About Me: "The Old Goat" Since my Joanna has let go of her life, Charlie (my little companion dog) and I (Papa Foote, "The Traveling Man") were still walking down the "road of live" - smelling the thoughts of the world. But now, since my stroke has started to creep into my old body, my mind is still with the "Eagles Flying Higher" but mostly, I just want to try to squeeze my thinking and writing into just a few words that count towards a better world - like no more anger and selfish thinking that comes from warring between human clans instead of helping each other in our World! My choices are my own - from my inner-self! "Thoughts" Plant Kiindness and Harvest Love Beware of Charlatans* *False expert: Somebody who falsely claims a special skill or expertise - Early 17th century: "to babble, patter," an imitation of the sound of empty talk! Keep Your Mind Open and Balanced Try To Be True To Your Inner-Self "Facts" Some "Facts" are actually truths that we are able to uncover and understand! Some "Facts" are only truths until something changes as we become able to understand more! Some "Facts" will never become truths because we will never be able to understand! "So" That is why the human mind has trouble with "factual conclusions"! "I'm Slowing Down - But Still Thinking" An Old Goat - Still Trying - As The World Cycles Forward (Never Back) - Leaning Forward Progressively - But Still In The Balance - Looking For The Better Path to The Future!