As we know, Greece, more specifically Athens, was the birthplace of democracy or “rule by the people” in 507 BCE. Athenian democracy, all though it only lasted for two centuries, the concept of this type of government lived on and many countries today are democracies to a certain degree. Sometimes I think we slip into the notion that America is “The Great Experiment in Democracy” and that we are somehow the first country to be an established democracy and are unique in pursuing the perfection of Democracy as our governmental system. The truth is that we are actually the experiment to see if we can abide as a collective society to successfully engage with one another in a Democratic governmental society. Democracy is already “a thing”, and we are trying to figure out how to infuse ourselves in the principles of what is necessary to be a cohesive humanity living under the sacred umbrella of Democracy. I know it is a delicate balance of giving and taking within reason and fairness.
It was interesting to me to research to find out what countries were considered to be the top 10 Democratic countries in the world. Much to my surprise where do you think the United States came into the list?
The 10 most democratic nations in the world (2020): out of a possible 10 points as the highest:
- Norway (9.87)
- Iceland (9.58)
- Sweden (9.39)
- New Zealand (9.26)
- Finland (9.25)
- Ireland (9.24)
- Canada (9.22)
- Denmark (9.22)
- Australia (9.09)
- Switzerland (9.03)
Our country, the United States scored 7.92 in 2020 and again landed in the “flawed democracy” category, where it has resided since falling from “full democracy” in 2016. It seems that our inability to deal with the COVID-19 restrictions, distrust in the government, bipartisan gridlock, and especially the increasing ideological polarization between democrats and republicans are all cited as contributors to this gradual demise of our stature as a functioning Democracy. I know that we are the so called “young Democratic nation” and we have always struggled with our moral compass, our ability to makes personal sacrifices if it benefitted more than just “our own self-interest”, and our indifference to the truth of our history which if we learned from our past mistakes and injustices, would bring us to a more perfect union.
We are failing our Democracy because we have not measured up to what is needed to be the type of governmental system that is required in our Democratic Republic. I think that we as a nation are considered to be both a Democracy and a Republic. I see Democracy as being the more expandable and expansive opportunity for autonomy in comparison to Communism and Socialism. There are probably some elements with modification from both Communism and Socialism that could be infused in our Democratic system that offers a measure of resolve to some of the challenges we are facing in terms of equality and inclusion so that we could do better in terms of having compassion for the wellbeing of our citizenry.
There are four basic elements that have been identified as being required to be classified
as a Democratic form of government.
1. A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections.
2. The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life.
3. Protection of the human rights of all citizens.
4. A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.
We have so much work to do as individuals and as a collective humanity to reach the goal of forming a more perfect union. Like stated in President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
What an amazing intention for a country to aspire to become! We can become our collective destiny. It will take cooperation, compromise, caring for each other-my brother’s keeper- and a willingness to work collaboratively to become that beacon of hope, justice, freedom, equality, and inclusion that we need to be for ourselves and the planet. So in conclusion, I am not fearful of us loosing this challenge of becoming a more perfect union, because I know that there are more people interested and invested in seeing our experiment in becoming a society that lives in a harmony and concert in a functioning Democratic System of Government, than those who would try to derail our success. Perseverance, tenacity, determination, and faith in our ability to establish a united front is gonna make it happen. We know how to Stand Up! We know how to Speak Up! We know how to Show Up! Remember- our vote makes the difference! A fellow blogger of mine-BlackCloud- share a quote by Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) today that struck me and feels appropriate to close our conversation. And it reads-
“The secret of success is constancy to purpose”!
2 replies on “Democracy Is Not the Experiment- We as Americans Are The “Great Experiment”!”
Strangely the listed things that make a democratic government are the very things that governments have been suppressing for the past few years.
Maybe they missed a memo.
Yep! The good thing is that there are too many of us that are awake in our life now that see and understand the value of truth and justice. Those that are sleep walking will be awaken to the realization that good will overcome that which is negative and destructive! We can’t go back to complacency! There would be too much to lose!