Democracy Talk: Democracy Talks by Ben Bussewitz

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Democracy Talk: Democracy Talks

by Ben Bussewitz M.M. Reason; M.I.T.

Harvard Law School

Brighton, NY

26 September 2023

            The task of democracy far exceeds the bare minimum of a citizen a vote. It is certainly a great feat to elect officials into positions of authority. However, there is an entire framework of a lived experience, that goes on throughout each day, that all citizens go through and it does not just involve the ballot box. Citizens must become not only informed, but they must contribute to the polity in a more meaningful manner in order to actualize their identities as ‘citizens.’ It is good to vote of course, there is good merit, but what about the rest of the days of the year, not only the run-ups to elections, but the time in between elections when the government gets about most its business (as they do not have to expend as much time or energy into being reelected--albeit, the governmental bureaucracy gets along quite efficient all the days of the week). The citizens, in U.S. democracy, in order for democracy to run smoothly and effectively, must exhibit strength of moral character, bear a positive public ethos that contributes to the fluid exchange of information and ideas related to political life, discuss issues with their representatives that convey the thoughts of the people; and demonstrate fortitude of moral character, quality of ethos, and a prevalent, diffuse overall role in impacting the government. The overall impact of citizenship should contribute to creating better governance on the level of the governmental apparatus, and better lives for all citizens on the plain of the more concrete day-to-day lived experience.

            There is a lot to do as a citizen of a strong democracy! One must talk to the other people of the democracy about geopolitical matters that have local, regional, and global consequences, to actualize her role as a fundamental piece of the citizenry, as all the citizenry is interconnected. Each citizen is always already embedded in a singular environment, which is connected to an ecosystem, which is in a network of ecosystems, which is embedded in the totality of Mother Earth. The citizens must use their role as citizens to disclose their thoughts to other citizens and their representatives to enable the free-flowing emittance of their ideas, affect, beliefs, etc., into the ground. Their individual and collective wills are both in semi-permeable and thermodynamically-open apparatuses that are reminiscent of cell membranes. The individual will can leave the vocal cords, the mail box, the petition signature, etc., and transmit itself into the minds of other citizens or representatives (hence semi-permeable—the will can go through; and hence thermodynamically-open—emotions and affect can too: and in terms of collective will, the citizens, as a body, in popular assemblies and democratic assemblies, disclose their will to their people in office. It can be emitted to others by various means, hence thermodynamically-open and semi-permeable. And the collective will can be transmitted to the peoples’ will, which can be carried forth unto the general piety, the citizens’ officials in office.) John Dewey writes in an essay, “Democracy as compared with other ways of life is the sole way of living which believes wholeheartedly in the process of experience as end and as means” (John Dewey: Creative Democracy — The Task Before Us. 1939.)” It is veritable that experience can be easily constructed as “an end and as means” in democracy, as the end of the process, legislated effectuated into law in policy, directly impacts the citizen and changes individuals lives and communities likeness; and the means of going there, to the implemented policy, is to engage in talk amongst the citizenry about issues that matter.