Democracy vs. Plutocracy

It is my opinion, and the opinion of many others more informed than I, that the imperial elites feel it is their divine right to run this country into the ground for their own personal gain. We are living in a plutocratic society which resembles more of a tyrannical dictatorship than a democracy of, for, and by the people.

Does this give you the warm fuzzies? I doubt it. So why teach this truth in school? Do you really want our nation's children to come home from school angry at the world? Do you want to be the parent sitting across from your 4th grader asking them what they learned in school today, only to find out that they know more about our government than you do?

Now, I am not advocating the further use of this hidden curriculum that sugarcoats our government and its affairs nor do I believe in hiding or deleting the truth. What I am concerned about is that many parents know so little that to educate their young children beyond their knowledge would be insulting.

In casual conversation at a gathering it is considered impolite to bring up the topic of politics. Why is this so? Are we taught this just so that we will not offend others or is there a deeper reason? Who came up with this rule anyway? At once it seems to perpetuate complacency and to prevent us from exercising our first amendment right. By socially prohibiting the proletariat from sharing our viewpoints the plutocracy thwarts our chances of assembly and cohesion in opposition to our current system.

Where are the checks and balances? If all three branches of our government are all congratulating one another on their latest stock purchases and shooting pool at the country club together, then how are the interests of all the constituents in our society being met? Can we honestly say that our current government is "of the people, by the people, and for the people"? I do not think we can.

"Democracy is always a movement of an energized public to make elites responsible-it is at its core and most basic foundation the taking back of one's powers in the face of the misuse of elite power. In this sense, democracy is more a verb than a noun-it is more a dynamic striving and collective movement than a static order or stationary status quo." (West 68)

How do we energize our public? How can we educate our young people without making them bitter and cynical? How do we get complacent adults to challenge the status quo? How can we "exercise the powers of persuasion, to take back the public's attention from superficial and unfulfilling diversions, and to hold our public officials to a higher standard"? (West 73)

Here is an article I found about Plutocracy written by Paul Kurtz for the Council for Secular Humanism. http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/kurtz_20_4.html
If you are interested in challenging the status quo and striving toward true democracy rather than our current plutocracy then check out this site.

For all those of you who will be at Binghamton University next fall, you also might want to consider enrolling in Gladys Jimenez-Munoz's Social Activism. It is a class that requires a lot of passion and time, but if you want a good education on societal and political issues, then this is the class for you!