In Europe, it appears that in the name of democracy, elites are pursuing an autocratic, centralized power, seeking economic control and social regimentation.
quote by Maggie Gallagher
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Personally, I'm in favor of democracy, which means that the central institutions of society have to be under popular control. Now, under capitalism, we can't have democracy by definition. Capitalism is a system in which the central institutions of society are in principle under autocratic control. Thus, a corporation or an industry is, if we were to think of it in political terms, fascist that is, it has tight control at the top and strict obedience has to be establishedat every level--there's little bargaining, a little give and take,but the line of authority is perfectly straightforward. Just as I'm opposed to political fascism, I'm opposed to economic fascism. I think that until the major institutions of society are under the popular control of participants and communities, it's pointless to talk about democracy.
quote by Noam Chomsky
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The American polity is infected with a serious imbalance of power between elites and masses, a power which is the principal threat to our democracy.
quote by Paul Wellstone
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Even before Europe was united in an economic level or was conceived at the level of economic interests and trade, it was culture that united all the countries of Europe. The arts, literature, music are the connecting link of Europe.
I don’t think anybody truly knows where we’re going from here yet. It depends on too many unknowns. We don’t know where the COVID virus is going to take us. We don’t know where Black Lives Matter is going to take us right now. Do we get a real practical conversation going about race and policing and ultimately about the economic inequality that’s been a stain on our social contract? And of course, nobody knows where our next election is going to take us. I believe that our current president is a threat to our democracy. He simply makes any kind of reform that much harder. I don’t know if our democracy could stand another four years of his custodianship. These are all existential threats to our democracy and our American way of life.
quote by Bruce Springsteen
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The European Union, which is not directly responsible to voters, provides an irresistible opportunity for European elites to seize power in order to impose their own vision on a newly socially regimented Europe.
quote by Maggie Gallagher
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A country which proposes to make use of modern war as an instrument of policy must possess a highly centralized, all-powerful executive, hence the absurdity of talking about the defense of democracy by force of arms. A democracy which makes or effectively prepares for modern scientific war must necessarily cease to be democratic.
quote by Aldous Huxley
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Socialism is nothing more nor less than the social, political and ideological system which breaks the fetters upon economic growth created under capitalism and opens the way to a new period of economic and social expansion on a much larger scale.
quote by Earl Browder
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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How Powerful Are They...
Can an appointed judge dismiss an elected mayor?
Is this democracy when the elites are such a powerful players?
Are we allowed to ask these questions or even think about this?
Is there something wrong here, that Mayor Ford can be dismissed?
Appointees and aristocrats always think that they are right,
We have Trudeau's Charter and have been told that we are quite bright,
Though we don't have referendums or set-date elections,
And we never change Trudeau's Charter or make corrections.
The elites know who they are, where they are and who you are,
So their unquestionable conduct may seem quite bizarre,
There's nothing you can do so you better bow your head,
We're lucky we're in Toronto, Canada or they might behead.
poem by James Bredin
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It violates right order whenever capital so employees the working or wage-earning classes as to divert business and economic activity entirely to its own arbitrary will and advantage without, the social character of economic life, social justice, and the common good.
quote by Pope Pius XI
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Is Democracy Doomed?
These days, journalists are all writing about democracy,
A mixture of bureaucracy theocracy audacity,
Where the aristocracy may still hold most of the power,
If the old dictator can hold on and the others cower.
Because democracy can be bent in many many ways,
And those in power want to stay there forever always,
Therefore democracy should have several stipulations,
Regardless of how many in the mob have impatience.
Binding referendums and recall should be part of the scheme,
And set-date elections nailed down for each and every regime,
Proportional representation built into every election,
So special interest party groups can’t control the selection.
And all citizens over eighteen should be compelled to vote,
So several party members don’t have us all by the throat,
So democracy is spread everywhere evenly all around,
And not just a name inside another UN compound.
Feb 2nd,2011
poem by James Bredin
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In democracy
In democracy
Writ of the peole runs.
In democracy
Repesentatives should not
Called leaders.
In democracy
Representatives must not
Act as er whim.
In democracy
Representative should not
Show dictatorial style.
In democracy
Representative should not have
Arrogance of power.
In democracy
Treachery and
Ruthless decisions
Not good.
In democracy
The representatives
Should be sensitives
Towards sensitive issues.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
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Control Over Power
Control over power is good, because everyone needs control over the burden of power.
Power over control is not the best, because people then can not control the power they have and use it in very sick and disgraceful ways.
That's why control over power is the best and that will never change.
poem by Andrew Marks
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Each man has an equal social right to multiply his power of motion by all the social factors of civilization. Private property in any of these factors is inconsistent with this fundamental right; it must, obviously, prove a source of economic despotism and industrial slavery.
quote by Daniel De Leon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The intercourse between the Mediterranean and the North or between the Atlantic and Central Europe was never purely economic or political; it also meant the exchange of knowledge and ideas and the influence of social institutions and artistic and literary forms.
quote by Christopher Dawson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Democracy v Liberty
The fathers of democracy.
The ancient Greek philosophers
were dependent on slavery.
Which leaves me in a quandary.
How can it be democracy
to have such inequality?
I think democracy should be
a universal human right.
Though it is not quite obviously.
An ideal to aspire to.
Which one day might be possible.
The time has come now to review.
What we mean by democracy.
If everybody has their say.
It might well lead to anarchy.
When we elect a government.
The will of the majority
is what they’re meant to represent..
But it seems they rarely do.
This cannot be democracy.
the many are ruled by the few.
Who gain control quite legally
because their wealth allows them to
encouraged by our apathy.
The systems open to abuse
The people have the power to
insist on change; which we don’t use.
We vote or not just as we choose.
A facet of democracy.
I would be hesitant to lose.
It seems to me democracy
is something which we can’t achieve
and still retain our liberty.
There is no way that I can see
which will be fair to everyone.
I must admit despondently.
A partial democracy
is what we have and will retain
a curb upon our liberty.
You have no reason to complain
if you choose not to use your vote.
You have the freedom to abstain.
Sunday,16 May 2010
http: // blog.myspace.com/poeticpiers
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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The struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma is a struggle for life and dignity. It is a struggle that encompasses our political, social and economic aspirations.
quote by Aung San Suu Kyi
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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If we put our trust in the common sense of common men and 'with malice toward none and charity for all' go forward on the great adventure of making political, economic and social democracy a practical reality, we shall not fail.
quote by Henry A. Wallace
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It appears fashionable these days, and almost politically correct, to blame hard-working immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America, for the social and economic ills of our state and nation.
quote by Roger Mahony
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Rendezvous on Champs-Elysees
Leave Paris in the morning on T.E.E.
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
In Vienna we sit in a late-night cafe
Straight connection, T.E.E.
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
From station to station
back to Dusseldorf City
Meet Iggy Pop and David Bowie
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
Trans-Europe Express
song performed by by Kraftwerk
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One was a book I read by Mahatma Gandhi. In it was a passage where he said that religion, the pursuing of the inner journey, should not be separated from the pursuing of the outer and social journey, because we are not isolated beings.
quote by Satish Kumar
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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