Viewpoints
Democracy or Oligarchy, You
Decide.
By Samuel Bergeron
August 27, 2007
Monday
Winston Churchill said that "Democracy is the worst form
of government except for all the others we've tried".
We live in a republic (representative
democracy). We elect people to make decisions and exercise power
for us. Often times the decision making of our elected officials
do not represent the will of the majority of the people they
represent. On issues of great importance I think it is prudent
to take the issue to the people and ask them directly rather
than having some elected official assume the will of the people
or ignore their will altogether. That's why I like ballot initiatives;
it's the purest form of democracy.
Those of you who lament the jewelry store initiative should take
to heart the sacrifices made by our brave veterans and current
service men and women that give us the freedom and right for
the people to make laws. We have an obligation to exercise the
freedoms afforded to us that is commensurate to the ultimate
sacrifices made by those who came before us. This does include,
if you are so inclined, the right to opposition. But do it in
a manner that is not personal, intimidating or disrespectful.
To ignore this advice is to weaken your chances of success at
the ballot box as you will be seen as a jerk and people will
vote against you for spite.
An oligarchy is a small group of people who together govern or
control an organization, often for their own purposes. Arguably
that can be said about the Borough Assembly, KIC Tribal Council
and the City Council as well. Rather than leaving the big decisions
to a benevolent oligarchy, I would take democracy to its purest
form and ask the people directly. In a democracy the majority
rules, an oligarchy rules regardless if the majority likes it
or not.
Samuel Bergeron
samuelbergeron[at]gci.net
Ketchikan, AK
Received August 26, 2007 -
Published August 27, 2007
About: " I'm a life-long
Alaskan and concerned citizen."
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