[MD] Democracy

[Christoffer Ivarsson]

> Chris:
> Indeed I do. Real socialism for me means real democracy. Real socialism to
> me means a society where people have the time and the means to fully
> exercise a intellectually guided democracy. I that isn't so, then it isn't 
> a
> socialist society in my book.
>
> woods:
>    You have made the political intellectual pattern to mean only 
> socialism.  No
> wonder you'll argue with others about this and others will argue with you. 
> Each
> of you have different definitions of what socialism is.

I have not made it to mean socialism. But by my definition of socialism, I 
have yet to hear a better program for intellectual level superiority. 
However, it is problematic, because to a lot of people, when I say I am a 
socialist, they will assign me a whole bunch of opinions that I don't hold. 
I believe in democracy, free speech, justice and all that stuff.  I don't 
believe in the necessity of a bloody revolution, I don't believe in 
oppression of differing opinions or any of that Stalinist stuff.
Perhaps the word socialism is too infected, perhaps I should invent a new 
one.

What would be a good word for wanting to build a extensive welfare state 
with "radical" democracy? Because that is really what I am all about, I want 
to make democracy work by making it possible for people to understand what 
it is. To give them the time and the means to understand it. That's what a 
welfare state is Good for. So that people can feel safe and be able to 
develop themselves in whatever way they want. That way we can work towards a 
society where people needn't be so bound by social values, because they are 
liberated by being born into a society where realizing your potential and 
going after Quality is possible without the constant fear of failing and 
ending up on the streets or something like that.

You know, to make a shift from social values to intellectual ones as the 
most central, And make it easier to explore ANY form of Quality. That I 
believe is best done by building a society where, by providing the basic 
needs for everyone, the (social level motivated) hysteria which is the 
accumulation of wealth  hasn't got such a strong grip on people.

What would you call it?