By Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Democratic participation, something that some people feel excluded from, and something that the government wants people to get involved in, mean more than going every four or so year to the polls, at national and local level, etc.
The real true meaning of democratic participation is to be an active member of society, to actively help in its restructuring and thereby to understand its multiplicity as a chance.
To this end people must come to understand that it is they who should be in charge of their lives and of society and not government, central [federal], regional or even local.
It is at street level where power must lie and we, the people, must demand that power gets put into our hands at that level, and we must show that we can do it.
In some countries of Europe citizen participation is a lot more pronounced than it is in Britain or the USA. In Germany, for example, there are many so-called “Bürgervereine” (citizens associations) on a local basis (there are also those on a regional, over-regional and national basis and level) that are very much engaged in holding politicians of all levels to account but who also actively and constructively work together with the authorities to provide services.
Only a citizen who is prepared to get involved in society in a positive way to make positive changes really and truly can make any demands on society. Too many, especially, in Britain and the USA, it would appear, just want to be passive recipients of this or that and always complain that they are not getting what they are “entitled” to.
The great American statesman John F. Kennedy said in one of his speeches “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” and this is something that no one seems to have taken much to heart.
Far too many people do not seem to get it that with rights as a citizen come also obligations and only someone who fulfills those has really any right to claim his or her rights. It is a two-way street and one of give and take. It cuts both ways.
Active participation is something that too many shirk away from and especially as regards to providing services of some sorts for themselves, be this libraries, schools, children and youth facilities, etc. The attitude of far too many people seems to always be that that is something that they pay their taxes for and thus it is up to government to provide those services.
We have become so much, especially in the Anglo-Saxon world, it would appear, an “entitlement society” where everyone just want to receive his “entitlements”, often “entitlements” that he or she thinks they should be entitled to even though there is nowhere where it says that they are.
On the other hand, government, of whatever level, also must become more understanding to the people and aid them in helping themselves and in getting involved in the “affairs of state”, so to speak.
All too often government does not understand either that citizens want and need to be involved for it all to work and that they, the citizens, need to be given the means to do provide some of the services within community groups, residents associations, citizens associations, etc., that they want to provide.
For all this to work we need to have an open society where everyone can participate regardless of age, gender, class, race, etc. without discrimination and open society also means openness on the part of local and central government.
Participation in society mean empowerment and real people power.
So, let's hear it for real people power...
© 2011
