I am currently reading First Democracy : The Challenge of an Ancient Idea by Paul Woodruff, Professor of Ethics and American Society at the University of Texas in Austin (got that? At the University of Texas.).

This is a fascinating study of the history of democracy, with an incisive analysis of how democracy was conceive in ancient Greece, how it was put into practice in Athens, how it worked, and how it didn't work—warts and all. Woodruff doesn't make the mistake of positing a "golden age" of democracy in Athens; he points out that the Athenians kept slaves and that women were not allowed to participate in government (there were many men at the time who maintained that this was not right). When the democratic principles the Athenians attempted to live by didn't work, the reasons were pretty clear. But for the most part, many of the ideas they put into practice worked very well indeed, and we could learn much by examining the way they did things. The concept that not only should all citizens be allowed to participate, but that they should be required to participate was something they took very seriously.

For example, there were political factions, of course, but there were no political parties, certainly not in the way we have them now. And not just certain people selected by the wealthy elite were presented as candidates for public office. All citizens of Athens were potential candidates. In fact, all citizens were candidates. Education was a primary concern in Athens, so the literacy rate was high. It was expected of the citizens of Athens that they keep themselves fully aware of current events. To be well-informed. Because they might very well be called upon to be involved in making the necessary decisions. You see, public officials were not voted into office;   they were chosen from the citizenry at large by lottery. Like juries are selected today in the United States. Any registered voter can be called to jury duty at any time (and has to have a pretty darned good reason if they want to get out of it). And in ancient Athens, any citizen could suddenly find himself in public office. And it was his obligation as a citizen of Athens to serve if called upon. [Incidentally, public official's were paid reasonably well (not the $5.00 a day or whatever token stipend modern jurors get), so they didn't lose by it, although they certainly didn't get rich.]

I could go on and on, but I would strongly recommend that anyone who assumes that he or she knows how democracy works and what it is really all about—and how and why it sometimes doesn't work—should hie themselves to their local library and check this out. Or better still, buy a copy, read it carefully, and keep it handy for reference.

Among other things, Woodruff details and explains the seven requirements of democracy. And he ends the book with a chapter entitled, "Are Americans Ready for Democracy?"

Get it. Read it. Learn.

You might be surprised. You'll certainly look at the way this country operates in a new way—as if you've just wiped the fog off your glasses.

Don Firth