Citizen Ambassadors, Citizen Activists And True Democracy

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The following article extract comes to us courtesy of Truthout.org, an organization labeled by many as being "Progressive" (now a pejorative term when spoken by conservatives and Republicans) news source. And yes, I read The Liberty Digest, too (they tend to be called "right-wing" or "ultra-conservative" by many of those folks whom others are calling Progressives and Liberals. I read as much as I can, and I make my own decisions after gleaning insights from the full spectrum of politicized and cause-based media.

I am what some people would call an "Independent Thinker." It even gets lonely. By our nature, we really can't have a club, except to beat each other with. And for goodness' sake, stop calling Independent Thinkers, Non-Joiners, Sideliners And Revolutionaries "Anarchists" -- we are anything but Anarchists.

Please read the article excerpt which follows, then hit the "BACK" button on your browser, and come back. We aren't finished with this discussion. It concerns all of Human Civilization internationally.

Sunday 1 January 2012

Populism Isn't Dead, It's Marching: What 19th Century Farmers Can Teach Occupiers About How to Keep Going

Ashley Sanders, War Is A Crime.org: "Not so long ago, Americans witnessed the beginning of a mass democratic uprising.... They did it to reject debt. They did it to fight foreclosures. They did it to topple a world where the 1 percent determined life for the other 99. And they did all of it against incredible odds, with a self-respect that stymied critics. The year? 1877. The people? Dirt-poor farmers who would come to be known as Populists."
Read the Article

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THE INTERNATIONALIST PAGE COMMENTARY:

To have any type of democracy flourish, certain preconditions should exist, and should be sustained and vigorously defended. Any tear in the fabric of democratic principles invites unconscionable abuses and contortions of the very concept of "people working, through informed argument, compelling conversation and majority agreement, with tolerance and provision for those who may disagree, to operate in a synergistic manner which benefits as great a percentage of the participants as possible without any unnecessary restriction of essential freedoms." This is my ideal for a functioning democracy.

1) Free exchange of information, news and ideas through unrestricted communication across all demographic and geographical borders;

2) A reasonable standard of education for all. Education is crucial, and is too often neglected around budget season. Simply put, NO EDUCATION = NO DEMOCRACY;

3) A safe, accessible forum for direct voting on all issues of concern for all participants, and a vigorous turnout for these votes. No gerrymandering, electoral colleges, no delegation to 'greater minds' -- simply a direct, uncontrived vote, with an honest, audited, public count;

4) Limited laws, made by vote, which are based on the need for cooperative effort, or to prevent significant physical dangers to the entire population -- not laws for the purpose of creating jobs, granting privileges, regulating morality, and to keep politicians and other potentially parasitic intermediaries busy;

5) Equal treatment under those limited laws -- it would certainly help if each voting participant imagined himself or herself being prosecuted or persecuted as a lawbreaker, as opposed to the notion of controlling the behavior, beliefs and practices of others to conform to their own beliefs...laws should be made to protect and not to restrict or constrain;

And last, every world citizen should have the right to question authority, orders, demands, perceived abuses, pirating of democracy, and other potential cracks in the foundation of true democracy. Democracy cannot be be forced upon people. Democracy cannot be bought. Democracy does not equate to somnambulistic conformity.

Every citizen must be an activist, and an informed participant to deserve and to create a democracy. Democracy is a difficult form of civilization -- it requires relentless work, transparency and a great deal of open communication.

How many true democracies do you think that we have in our world today? Hmmm....I wonder.

Remember this, too. Democracy disintegrates if it is neglected. It requires vigilance; but I believe the benefits are truly worth the effort.

Douglas E Castle for THE INTERNATIONALIST PAGE

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The UN, Global Business And Citizen Ambassadorship

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The UN Security Council is one of most politically influencial bodies in the international community. Its pronouncements and policies have a profound effect on relationships among many countries, as well as effects on the respective economies and internal political stability of those countries which it cites or sanctions. This is a Global Community Business News Update regarding the progress, to date, of the UN Security Council Reform Movement, and some brief conjecture about the future of the UN itself.

The membership of the Council has been hotly contested, as have many of its decisions and pronouncements, principally because its exclusive membership (some very powerful nations, both economically and militarily) it is not viewed by the vast majority of the nations which are "mere" members as being fairly representative of those member nations as a whole. Many of these nations feel as if they were merely impotent witnesses to proceedings (and occasionally theatrics) completely beyond their control.

This is analogous to a situation in which a large, publicly held corporation is run by a "bully pulpit" board of directors whose interests and policy decisions are strictly self-serving, and not representative of the sentiment of the shareholders as a collective group.

The Internationalist Page blog as well as TNNWC view the developments described below (courtesy of the UN NEWSWIRE) as being powerfully positive, pro-internationalism and potentially stimulating for global business.

TNNWC's International Connections Service (ICS) is extensively involved in providing services to small- to medium-sized entrepreneurial companies who have wisely chosen to enter the global marketplace -- exporters, importers, co-venturers and strategic investors. We will be keeping our readers and Clients apprised of how this ongoing movement might be leveraged to their ultimate advantage.

While we hope that these bold petitioners have the tenacity to be stay the course in order to be fairly represented (i.e., by a Council that truly tends to the interests and exists for the betterment of all participants), there is little in the way of substantive progress to report as of this date, due in large part to the Council's focus on crisis management with respect to the ongoing and expanding threat of terrorism.

While the issue of terrorism is certainly one to be taken seriously, it is seriously detracting from the focus of the reform effort and its sponsors. For your reference, a link to the original article from the UN Wire follows under my signature, below.

On the positive side of the movement toward reform, the U.S.'s increasingly obvious disenchantment with and mistrust of Pakistan (since the Killing of Osama Bin Laden at his rather conspicuous operating headquarters right inside of Pakistan) will likely strengthen India's voice -- as well as the U.S.'s ability to hear it in connection with both India-US relations, and with respect to the India-UN relations.

It is my thinking that with the rapid expansion and acceptance of social media communications from individual persons to large groups throughout the entire world (call it citizen news reporting, if you wish), and with the expansion of international trade through a combination of growing e-commerce sites and increasing multinational co-ventures which are encouraging unofficial but highly active person-to-person citizen and corporate ambassadorship, the UN stands a good chance of allowing itself to become irrelevent, if not extinct, within the frame of these next three to five years if it is unable to truly show exceptional value to all of its participants and to the court of international public opinion.

Imagine the threat of it: individual persons and companies representing themselves -- not by UN proxy, but directly, without limitation and distortion of the truth. This is being seen, and will continue to be seen by many governmental regimes and international bodies as being a threat (think of recent examples of international Blackberry bans, and internet censorship attempts by challenged and troubled despots in countries where rebellions have become increasingly bold and vociferous) to their ensconsed elite (i.e., the ruling class, the party in power, or the ambassadors, lobbyists and other traders in information and influence).

I believe that the UN, as if it were a nation unto itself, runs the same risk of being bypassed as an information broker and a decision-making body.

It would seem that international politics are giving way to interpersonal relationships.

Somehow, I do not see that as a negative thing. Many of us prefer a straight story from the source rather than a self-serving distortion or representation by an unfair, dishonest or ethically compromised broker with a hidden agenda.

Faithfully,

Douglas E Castle
http://TheGlobalFuturist.blogspot.com
http://TheInternationalistPage.blogspot.com
http://www.TNNWC.com

July 1, 2011 | News covering the UN and the world

Plan for Security Council reform gains momentum The governments of more than 100 countries reportedly have already lent their support to a plan that, in principle, would reform the UN Security Council by expanding the number of permanent seats. Japan, Brazil, Germany and India are lobbying widely for permanent membership on the powerful body. Google/The Associated Press (6/30)

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NOTICE: This article is Copyright © 2011 by author Douglas E Castle with all rights reserved. It may be republished without permission provided that it is published in full, with all hyperlinks and exhibits left intact, and with full attribution given the author. This article does not contain or constitute medical, health, psychological, legal, regulatory, investment, securities, financial, tax, or any other form of professional advice -- the reader acknowledges and accepts this disclaimer. Further, the reader indemnifies and holds harmless both the author and all publications in which this article appears of any damages, claims, loss, responsibility or liability emerging from the reader’s utilization of any information contained herein.