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8.
Freedom ‘Freedom’ means living by self-made decisions. Those living by their own decisions are free; those living - unknowingly or unwillingly - by other people’s decisions are not free. Total freedom is impossible in any society. It is possible only when one lives - voluntarily - isolated from all people. Living with others requires accepting, occasionaly, their decisions, and limiting one’s own decisions so they do not harm others. Even two people living together voluntarily have disagreements, and each must, occasionally, accept decisions of the other. If the same person always accepts others’ decisions, that person is oppressed. But if people take turns in accepting others’ decisions they limit their freedom - voluntarily - for the sake of living together. This occurs in most families, communities, cities, and societies. In society people agree to obey decisions of others if others in turn obey decisions of theirs. If the same person or group always has to bow to decisions of others, they are oppressed. Total freedom for every member of a group is impossible in any group, even in the smallest anarchist commune. Most people prefer to live in groups such as family, tribe, society, with partial, rather than total, freedom. However, there are different degrees of partial freedom. Living under elected rulers gives people more freedom than living under unelected rulers, as the ruled can at least decide who will decide for them. But those living under elected rulers have less freedom than those living without rulers. A society where every citizen can propose, debate and vote on every law and policy is self-ruled, and its majority lives by its own decisions. The minority must obey majority decisions but if the minority has a fair chance to become a majority it is not oppressed. These citizens have far more freedom than those in a society where representatives decide every law and policy. Politics without politicians (Direct Democracy) allows the highest level of freedom possible in any society. It is not total freedom, as majority decisions are binding and the minority must accept them. So the minority is not totally free. However, those in a minority on one issue can be in the majority on another decision. A minority that can promote its views and become a majority is not oppressed. A minority prevented from becoming a majority by rules (laws) forbidding it - or restricting its ability - to publicize its views, is oppressed - but if it can publicize its views and become a majority it is not. A society committed to Direct Democracy must enable every minority to promote its views, however disagreeable they may be. This will stimulate public debates on policy, increase people’s concern for their society, and raise the quality of life in society as a whole and of each individual within it. Direct Democracy will dispel the indifference of people to their society and the boredom and depression most people suffer today. |
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