[MD] Democracy

[Platt Holden]

Hi Chris, 

How about calling it "Spreading the wealth?" :-)

Platt

> > 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?