[Peace-discuss] Mildly

[n.dahlheim at mchsi.com]

Circular argument?

I think I need to rephrase my thinking then.  I am fairly certain that democracy cannot work in the 
United States because the structural prerequisites do not exist.  Tocqueville provided the framework for 
developing this line of analysis.  The precondition for democracy is a society constructed around and 
oriented towards equality.  However, the rise of an industrial and now financial/commercial elite has 
created the soft tyranny Tocqueville feared would destroy the equality of social conditions in American 
democracy.  This elite and the unequal society formed under their watch came to power because 
Americans have, as Tocqueville also noted, a concern with private affairs that trumps their 
communitarian values and committment to general equality.  This is best manifested in the American 
consumerist ethos and even the American Dream that rewards economic gain ahead of the 
community---an ethical system whose values permeate social institutions and destroy their democratic 
character.


> Note that omitted word is in title. I like short titles, but who wants to argue 
> about "mildly".
> 
> Nick- Your statement seems to say that democracy can't work in our society 
> because our society is structured so that democracy  can't work. This is a 
> little terse even for a confessed minimilist like me to follow, and seems to be 
> massively circular. Could you express this more clearly but still inside of one 
> paragraph?
> 
> Bob
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