Democracy (grecian Δημοκρατία, from δῆμος [dēmos], „Masses“, and κρατία [kratía], „Rule“, literal: Rules of the Masses) is an egalitarian form of government in which all the citizens of a nation together determine public policy, the laws and the actions of their state, requiring that all citizens (meeting certain qualifications) have an equal opportunity to express their opinion. In practice, "democracy" is the extent to which a given system approximates this ideal, and a given political system is referred to as "a democracy" if it allows a certain approximation to ideal democracy. Although no country has ever granted all its citizens (i.e. including minors) the vote, most countries today hold regular elections based on egalitarian principles, at least in theory.
The most common system that is deemed "democratic" in the modern world is parliamentary democracy in which the voting public takes part in elections and chooses politicians to represent them in a Legislative Assembly. The members of the assembly then make decisions with a majority vote. A purer form is direct democracy in which the voting public makes direct decisions or participates directly in the political process. Elements of direct democracy exist on a local level and on exceptions on national level in many countries, though these systems coexist with representative assemblies.
Avram Noam Chomsky (/ˈnoʊm ˈtʃɒmski/; born December 7, 1928) is an American linguist, philosopher,cognitive scientist, historian, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor (Emeritus) in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and a major figure of analytic philosophy. His work has influenced fields such as computer science, mathematics, and psychology.
Ideologically identifying with anarcho-syndicalism and libertarian socialism, Chomsky is known for his critiques of U.S. foreign policy and contemporary capitalism, and he has been described as a prominent cultural figure. His media criticism has included Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media (1988), co-written with Edward S. Herman, an analysis articulating the propaganda model theory for examining the media.
According to the Arts and Humanities Citation Index in 1992, Chomsky was cited as a source more often than any other living scholar from 1980 to 1992, and was the eighth most cited source overall. Chomsky is the author of over 100 books. He is credited as the creator or co-creator of the Chomsky hierarchy, the universal grammar theory, and the Chomsky–Schützenberger theorem.
Plot
All are dwelling in peace until Prussianism overcomes Liberty. Democracy, undaunted by Propaganda, comes to her aid. Prussianism throws a bomb, and the explosion rings the Liberty Bell. America sends men and fire hoses with the help of the Fourth Liberty Loan, and makes headway against the blaze. The armies rescue Liberty and Prussianism makes his escape, hiding in the Hall of Justice. Democracy discovers Prussianism in hiding and using the fire hoses, washes him down the sewer.
(Leo Henkin)
Foi ali bem no meio do capão
Se embalava a nativa no colo
E descia da mata num cipó
Entre índios e brancos gritava
Entre a cruz e a espada do Senhor
Viu Jesus que a cativa sangrava
E lhe deu de presente um berimbau
Pra cantar e espantar todo mal
Muito ouro se achava por aqui
Mas no mundo é que ele brilhava
E quem vive na terra patropi
De pobreza e preguiça se cala
Viva o sol, viva o lixo, viva a voz
Viva macunaíma nosso herói
Desse culto à miséria eu já cansei
Canta a voz da mentira outra vez
Democracy, it's a hard way
Povo pacífico, povo oprimido, povo apolítico
Povo que canta, que males espanta
Povo que reza unido na fome
Nossa guerra não tem terremoto
Nosso voto é de felicidade
Viva o índio glorioso do Xingu
Viva o nosso anão gabiru
Democracy, it's a hard way
I saw you and you were walking along,
You had your fist in the air you sang oh oh oh,
1 - 2 - 3 you could turn back to me and say,
“THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!”
Then like two leaves caught in the current we float,
We don‘t know where we’re going but we go to go,
It goes you and me got a couple of things on which we
can agree,
But what’s that worth anyway?
Walk downtown and you’re hearing this sound,
You can feel it around,
It goes “you and me and a bullet makes one,”
And it’s not just a gun, it’s a whole philosophy.
But there’s a lot of fucking people out there
Who won’t be moved by some flyers full of slogans and
rhetoric.
We could use some fresh perspective around here,
But we’ve got mountains to move, so let’s do our
fucking homework..
There’s not a lot of use in patting our backs
When there’s planes overhead and there’s cities burning
down.
It goes “me and you and a bullet makes one.”
Not to spoil your fun, but I’m not having it.
Watch out for who shuts up and who pulls the strings.
Watch out for “R-E-E-L-E-C-T,”
And if you shout at a wall at least it shows you can
scream,
And ask, “IS THIS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE?
We were given the rights. Our rights to Freedom.
But lately the Government, thinks we don’t need ‘em.
People, we must remember not to shoot the messenger.
The media is needed so truth can be feeded, and leaded to…
The People.
[Chorus]
We call ourselves a democracy!
That sounds funny to me.
Those of us who live by the shore
We know a bit more
About ocean pollution.
We must find a solution.
Solution.
[Chorus]
“If there is one word that I would use to sum up the atmosphere in Iraq,
believing the lies defines american
they don't realize their ignorance and sin
democracy ain't real it's a fairytale
anarchy now then spend the night in jail
i won't pretend that it ain't wrong
i won't just go along
humanity is deseased
and the sickness has increased
for the people by the people
who's considered people anyway?
the rich get richer and the poor get poorer
Did you notice that just recently in London town
The flags all waved
The people smiled a lot, the world was right
But now it seems that nothing's changed
My ears are ringing with the promise
The promise that they'll right the wrongs
And that they're ever gonna give you
Democracy, Democracy (you wanna bet?)
We've been down this path a million times
And yet there seems no hope for us
These times are hard and yet the few do well
The rest can wallow in the dust
And if you're looking for the answers
You won't need a chrystal ball
'Cause they're not taking any chances on
Democracy, Democracy (not on you life)
Don't tell me revolution changed a thing in France
'Cept for a king or two
'Cause when it's Bastile Day a toxic time bomb ticks
In the Pacific blue
'Cause revolution changes nothing
And voting changes even less
'Cause it's only time you are wasting on
Democracy, Democracy (there's none round here)
Is this what you call democracy?
They're killing us, and you're killing me
Now I know better, now I can see
That I don't wanna be in democracy
Now is the time for us to strike
Do we know what we're doing? Have we set things right?
They're leading us into World War Three
And this what you call democracy
It's a cry for no government, a cry to be free
And I don't see freedom in democracy
Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian
Do you really care what party you're in?
Did you really think you could make it big
Living amoung these nuclear pigs
If you didn't know you'll never see
We're too far gone for democracy
Look what's it's done to you and me...
It's not that i dont care or that i dont listen
But my cynisim is wrong
Out of a decline in a dominion
Sudden on the dark side I run
Twisted beauty and brief fascination
Ugliness and decay
Into this system we were born and we were humble
Our rage has no trail
Democracy the patriarchy indoctrinated tortured ones
Fuck your hereoes
I'll screw your gods
Fuck your icons
Deal with the real
Your made up morals
Your media ethics
Fuck you all
Degenerated politics
Democracy the patriarchy indoctrinated tortured ones
We all choose to be raped by authorities
Constant shameless mockery
Define and deny individuality
Sanity grows inside of you
Did you notice that just recently in London town
The flags all waved
The people smiled a lot, the world was right
But now it seems that nothing's changed
My ears are ringing with the promise
The promise that they'll right the wrongs
And that they're ever gonna give you
Democracy, Democracy (you wanna bet?)
We've been down this path a million times
And yet there seems no hope for us
These times are hard and yet the few do well
The rest can wallow in the dust
And if you're looking for the answers
You won't need a chrystal ball
'Cause they're not taking any chances on
Democracy, Democracy (not on you life)
Don't tell me revolution changed a thing in France
'Cept for a king or two
'Cause when it's Bastile Day a toxic time bomb ticks
In the Pacific blue
'Cause revolution changes nothing
And voting changes even less
'Cause it's only time you are wasting on
You have a choice, we are your voice
Red, blue or yellow.
We will blow away the green
Another five lane motorway
(You'll never get a referendum anyway)
Funny handshakes. insider dealing
Et in arcadia. arcadia ego
Backhanders and salamanders
A powerhouse that is morally
Mechula
I'm sorry democracy is changing
I'm sorry democracy is changing
I'm not a slogan or a badge
Or a cross in the ballot box
Neither values or objectives
You do not represent my deepest
Thoughts and wishes
Education in obsolete skills
Stereotyping and media projection
Industrial psychologists
Plan a campaign that is financed by
Big business
You have a choice, we are your voice
Red, blue or yellow.
We will blow away the green
Another five lane motorway
(You'll never get a referendum anyway)
It's coming through a hole in the air,
from those nights in Tiananmen Square.
It's coming from the feel
that this ain't exactly real,
or it's real, but it ain't exactly there.
From the wars against disorder,
from the sirens night and day,
from the fires of the homeless,
from the ashes of the gay:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
It's coming through a crack in the wall;
on a visionary flood of alcohol;
from the staggering account
of the Sermon on the Mount
which I don't pretend to understand at all.
It's coming from the silence
on the dock of the bay,
from the brave, the bold, the battered
heart of Chevrolet:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
It's coming from the sorrow in the street,
the holy places where the races meet;
from the homicidal bitchin'
that goes down in every kitchen
to determine who will serve and who will eat.
From the wells of disappointment
where the women kneel to pray
for the grace of God in the desert here
and the desert far away:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
Sail on, sail on
O mighty Ship of State!
To the Shores of Need
Past the Reefs of Greed
Through the Squalls of Hate
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.
It's coming to America first,
the cradle of the best and of the worst.
It's here they got the range
and the machinery for change
and it's here they got the spiritual thirst.
It's here the family's broken
and it's here the lonely say
that the heart has got to open
in a fundamental way:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
It's coming from the women and the men.
O baby, we'll be making love again.
We'll be going down so deep
the river's going to weep,
and the mountain's going to shout Amen!
It's coming like the tidal flood
beneath the lunar sway,
imperial, mysterious,
in amorous array:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
Sail on, sail on ...
I'm sentimental, if you know what I mean
I love the country but I can't stand the scene.
And I'm neither left or right
I'm just staying home tonight,
getting lost in that hopeless little screen.
But I'm stubborn as those garbage bags
that Time cannot decay,
I'm junk but I'm still holding up
this little wild bouquet:
The time has come to scorch the earth
And to start again clean
Bend the people to our will
With propaganda machines
Reconstruct the heirarchy
Revolution starts right here
Nihilistic anarchy
Obedience acheived through fear
This is our democracy
It's one for you and two for me
Trust in us, we know what's best
Violence and civil unrest
Infiltrate the battle zone
Lost soldiers coming home
Be a king or be a slave
Honor lies in an unmarked grave
Every man must choose his path
Will you fight or will you run?
It's us or them, just do the math
Stand up and be someone!
Just something you should understand
Before you come to invade my home
Justice stings like the back of my hand