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19. november 2002
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Dare we try Democracy?
Most people reading this probably live in countries they feel are democratic, be they republics or constitutional monarchies. The people elect representatives for congress, either directly or indirectly a head of state (or, this is a figurehead with no political power). The national assembly answers to the vote of the people. This is called representative democracy.
When the constitutions of the western world were written, it was accepted that the common people were too stupid, too ignorant, to vote. That was a privilegue of the ruling class, those men who owned land. Gradually the proportion of the population allowed to vote was increased, including women, until now typically everybody over 18 are eligeble to vote (sometimes, criminals excepted).
Still, the state is run by professional, elected politicians. They create political parties, further reducing the influence of voters on the political decisions. The voter is not allowed to decide on individual issues, they get presented with a number of bundles of opinions, and have to choose what typically amounts to the lesser evil.
When the constitutions were created, a real democracy was not only undesired, it was unfeasible. Today, with advances in technology we could have a democracy where every law, every budget were given to the people in a referendum. So why don't we? No politician will ever dare say that people are too stupid to be allowed to decide on such matters, but I suspect that is what many of them mean. Furthermore, what politician will take an initiative to make him- or herself sparse?
We can have a real democracy. But, should we?
11:30:52 PM 
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Small Poetry Journal Hits Jackpot
The obscure but well-renowned journal Poetry used to publish its monthly circulation of 12,000 out of cramped quarters over a private library in Chicago, having a total staff of four.
That was until Ruth Lilly, an heir to the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical fortune, died and left the magazine as one of the beneficiaries. The exact sum is not know, but it will be more than $100 million!
8:46:15 PM
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A Better Definition of 'Terrorism'
"Terrorism, then, is the tactic of demanding the impossible, and demanding it at gunpoint." (Christopher Hitchens in Slate)
5:26:11 PM
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Oil Tanker Sinks
The oil tanker that has been leaking oil outside Spain has broken apart and is about to sink. This raises fear of a massive ecological disaster in the region, as the tanker carries at least 70,000 metric tons of fuel oil.
5:14:48 PM
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 Bloggers First, Media Next
The amazing new photographs of the Sun taken by Swedish astronomers at the Canary Islands is making its way around mainstream media these days, quite a few days after bloggers posted about it. CNN wrote about it just now. Secular Blasphemy wrote about it, and posted pictures, last Thursday. *gloat*
6:22:06 AM
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WSJ Discovers Blogs
You know blogging is becoming mainstream when the media picks it up big time. I guess that is what is happening now. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal is actually a good overview of the phenomenon.
5:37:16 AM
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The Ultimate PC Hardware Guide
 Want to know the latest about the newest CPUs? What is the best graphics card for you?
You simply can't do much better than reading Tom's Hardware Guide. It provides solid technical insight on PC hardware.
Recommended for your bookmarks.
5:08:58 AM
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Meteor Shower NOW!
In just a few hours Nothern Europe will witness a spectacular show in the sky, as thousands of tiny meteorites from the Leonid swarm hits our atmosphere.
This may well become the best meteor shower over this part of the world this century.
The meteor shower should also be visible in other parts of the world, at different times. Check your local news sources.
3:09:40 AM
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The US wants to sell Missile Defense to Europe
 The American MD initiative, (un)popularly called the "son of star wars" project, which projected to set up a defence against strategic nuclear missiles, was never popular in Europe. Fears mounted that developing a missile defence system could result in a new arms race with Russia. When the US withdrew unilaterally from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty these fears were strengthened.
Currently, the US is trying to sell the idea to Europe by making MD a NATO project, defending not only North America but also Europe from the threat of long range missiles. Perhaps not surprisingly, the reaction in Europe is suddenly much more positive.
So what happened to the "new arms race" argument? Of course, it was bogus in the first place, and even some who used it knew this. Russia is in no position to take part in an arms race of this magnitude. Neither, currently, is China. The US is so vastly superiour to any other military power on this planet that it will take decades even for an emerging economic superpower to catch up. In the meantime, the greatest danger remains so-called rogue states, and Europe is in worse danger from missile attacks from e.g. the Middle East than the US is. Add to this, of course, the promise of receiving some American defense $billions into the European arms industry.
1:27:28 AM
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© Copyright 2002 Jan Haugland.
Last update: 01.12.02; 02:51:11.
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