"Democracy is our most precious institution, you must respect that!" he said pounding his right fist into his open left hand.
"Not when all the operating principles are misrepresented and undermined," I replied emphatically.
"Where is our right to a meaningful vote as valued as the next person's? Government no longer supports equality of education or opportunity. Freedom of speech is a shouting match dominated by the loudest. Equitable access to public resources and social infrastructure is largely pork barrelled. The distribution of wealth is dominated by manipulative profiteering cliques."
"The term democracy has been misappropriated, Political leadership is in the hands of the powerful or power mad."
"Our people want to participate, to share the benefits with each other, but our system isn't democratic, it all belies our existence; we wait, and are still denied."
The dVerse prosery prompt to which I have responded comes from Merrill. It seemed to demand a political statement to me. See below:
poetography.ink 
The mind actuated by a sense of democracy can never be reconciled ro what the elites are shoving down our throats. This is an interesting topic to tackle. I sense a bit of the outspoken DH Lawrence being tapped into.
A very solid response to the prompt, Sean.
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I accept an association with D. H. Lawrence with gratitude and appreciate the sympathetic comment Nigel. It is hard to believe where we are at after all the hope post WWII.
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Democracy is definitely under siege. We’re in 1984 territory now, and the regime here wants Orban’s “illiberal democracy.” Thank you for writing to the prompt!
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Now there is a contradiction in terms!
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It is indeed!
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Every disaster, natural or made made, war or pestilence, etc, has always been viewed as an opportunity to establish more control. The cynical in me says they sold us hope and regretted it almost immediately. Power.. or rather corrupt power cannot share a space with a liberated humanity.
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I agree Nigel, power is necessary to keep social systems functional, however, unfettered power only succeeds in suppressing their potential to flourish and serve the powerful. Checks and balances on unfettered power once appeared to be the strength of democracies, but we now seem so ready to let them be weakened and even fail altogether.
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I think a lot about democracy and what it means, Sean. It’s actually something I may write about at some point… I really, really appreciate this piece of yours ❤
Much love,
David
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David, I would be very interested to read your perspective on democracy and where it is at.
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I remember back in the day there were safety checks on conflicts of interest, anti trust, and when government officials weren’t even given salaries. Now it seems that we elect CEO’s and corporations. DH would definitely approve of this!! Well done, friend!
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Checks and balances were better at keeping things on a more even keel before the bombardment of unashamed lies and overt, gratuitous self interest came along. Add the threat of physical violence against visitors, residents or citizens and cohesive society fragments all too easily. Under persistent assault, democracy turns out to be more fragile than resilient. Thanks for reading and the comment.
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So glad you went to the political side of life ~~ I thought about it and realized my blood pressure was going to suffer. Every word of your prose, beautifully composed, truth.
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Thank you Helen. I am sorry such words are the first that come to mind these days.
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A wonderful take on the prompt Sean and one to be reflected upon, sadly – true.
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Thank you Paul. I am reflecting am it more and more – sadly.
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Yes indeed sadly, sigh
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