tct-current

Things To Consider Today

Political Action By Citizens

They say that democracy is a very slow and inefficient form of government. A benign dictator can get things done faster, but a ruthless ruler will do things that are not good for the people. I’d prefer the democratic route. The benefit of democracy is that power is distributed among many individuals. This helps to protect the freedoms and rights of all citizens.

In a democracy like the United States, the government has remained stable even though there have been several social and political changes over the past few decades. I’ve seen periods of little political unrest. But other times an issue will come up or a cause will develop that catches the interest and attention of people. They begin to talk among themselves, organize, and soon they’re acting up and acting out to demonstrate their displeasure and frustration and anger over a civic issue.

The freedom to speak out on public and political issues is one of the best features of a democracy. It gets people thinking. Ideas are generated. Attitudes begin to change. Through the democratic process, elected officials eventually hear the people. Existing laws are modified or new ones created. In the process rights are expanded and in some cases given for the first time.

In my lifetime I have witnessed the civil rights movement for African Americans, the women’s rights movement to expand opportunities for women, and a movement to gain the same privileges and rights for homosexuals that the heterosexual population enjoys. Besides these social movements, there have been demonstrations against the Vietnam War, as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through all these, our government is still stable and strong and continues to operate as it should. The real beauty of democracy is its flexibility to adapt to the stress and strain placed on it over the years.

Recently another good example of democracy in action has come up. Due to some political action and inaction by the federal government, there have been many town hall meetings throughout the country where citizens have gone and expressed their concerns to members of Congress. This is their right to do such things and it is healthy for any democracy. When citizens do this, you know that they’re very concerned about something and want to be heard. Such meetings are just one way to allow people to voice their opinions and relieve their frustrations at the same time.

People have brought up several topics in town hall meetings. These include high unemployment, declining home values, too much government debt, and illegal immigration. One hot topics has been healthcare. The recent effort to provide good health care to more Americans has generated a lot of discussion and meetings throughout the country both in Congress and outside of it. Most people recognize that we have a good health system, but it can and should be improved in order to benefit more people and be more efficient in delivering health care. There are different opinions about how to do this. So the discussions and political maneuvering go on for weeks and months before solutions are determined and laws are passed to bring about constructive change.

The active participation of voters in various movements, demonstrations, town hall meetings, and other efforts to improve basic services such as health care are all evidences of how positive change can come about through the democratic form of government. Such participation is not possible in many other countries. This is one reason why I say that citizens in this country are blessed to live here.

As citizens each of us can do several things that well have a political impact in our community, state, or nation. Let us show respect for and obey the law. Learn about political issues and exercise the right to vote in every election. Let your opinions be heard. Participate in meetings, rallies, and conventions. Write letters to the editor in your local newspaper. Communicate about political or civic issues with others on the Internet. Let elected officials for your area know how you think on various issues. Volunteer to work on political campaigns or for ballot issues. Contribute money and help to raise funds for candidates seeking public office or for measures on the ballot. In some cases, run for public office your self. The more citizens who do such things, the better democracy works.

Besides creating a free and functional political environment, there is another way that our democracy should operate. It should expand opportunities and benefits for as many citizens as possible. It should create a high quality of living for us. This begins with strong marriages and happy family life. There will be plenty of educational opportunities for all those who seek them, as well as job training to help people obtain work. There will be freedom of worship that is respected and utilized, and a spirituality that permeates the ethics of everyone. There will be respect for law and order. People will treat each other in a kind and civil manner, and be helpful in times of stress and misfortune. Groups and organizations will exist to promote good causes, provide services, and meet the special needs of individuals. Culture will flourish. Creativity and incentive will be rewarded. In essence, people will be free to make out of their lives what they choose to make of them.

The United States is more than a member of the global community. We are a powerful country with the duty to demonstrate that the democratic form of government is the best form. People in other nations look at our example and the lives our citizens live. This should motivate these foreigners to seek greater freedoms for themselves and to obtain the benefits in their country that we have in our country.

The challenge for each of us is to appreciate our country and its form of government. Be informed and do your duty as a citizen. Set a good example for others. Let your opinions be heard. Serve as a volunteer. In these and other ways you can have an impact on your own society. May you make time and put forth the energy to do this.

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