Democracy vs Authoritarianism
Dear Editor,
In a world of uncertainty, safety is the first thing one wants. Today, the world seems more uncertain than ever before, especially from climate changes. The second thing people think of is who to blame, and often the scapegoat is some group or person outside one’s own.
It is quite easy to be attracted to someone who feeds these desires with only words. In our time of TMI (too much information) we do not know, really, what about those words are true or false.
The New Republic of today 7/18/24 quoted Professor Joe Pierre of UC San Francisco’s Neuroscience Institute: “People who favor an authoritarian regime, notably, do not think it will be used against them, but to “subjugate others and have their freedoms taken away.” However, one thing is certain; if someone wants power over everyone else, he or she wants power over you too.
Democracy depends on each of us having the courage to think for ourselves and to learn its foundations. Reading our Constitution and Bill of Rights is a good way to do that. Yes, the democratic process can be uncertain and messy as we work out everyone’s points of view, and in that respect, it is not “safe.” Instead of indiscriminate “blame,” it uses a judicial system together with the rule of law. it is not perfect partly because of selfish interests and prejudices. It may never be perfect, but we need to protect it from partisan corruption.
I find safety in local reality. People I see are friendly to each other, for instance. We had a flood, but we are trying to repair the damage (and we needed the rain anyway). Many of us find safety in religion and our family. I find safety in seeing or watching programs about people working toward solutions.
Joan Sheski