By its definition, a democracy must be ruled by the people. We’re conditioned to think of rule in terms of legislative, executive and judicial actions, but those are actually the manifestations of rules that already exist. A populace rules its nation by telling the government what to do, and instituting consequences for failure.
Rule is implemented through many actions, most very small and momentary but magnified by collective effort: voting, contacting representatives, supporting political organizations, litigating present and recent government actions, assembled demonstrations of purpose (rallies), planned violations of existing rules to impede inappropriate government action (protests), and in extreme cases, becoming part of a military force in order to repel an enemy. With so many available actions, it should be possible for everyone to be useful, or to support someone else in work they find meaningful.
By engaging in these activities, a citizen is investing in the stability of their political environment, in the expectation that they will reap benefits which will probably be obscure and indirect. Conversely, a person who has no involvement in any of these has no reason to anticipate continued safety and prosperity, or at least has no guarantee of such things.
The overwhelming problem I see every day is that most people are not fully engaged, with many either ignoring their political reality or hoping that someone else will take up the slack for them, which is not how a democracy can possibly work. A barrier has been placed in society between those who engage in politics and those who do not. This barrier persists because of reluctance to take part in the weighty work that falls on the very few currently engaged, because of the potential danger to those who expose differing views, especially if they are of minority origins, and because of lack of knowledge in how to best proceed. All of these can be overcome, but they require willpower, experiment, and discomfort.
So the issue at hand is to break the divide between the ordinary life and the political one, and make them one and the same. To instill in the general populace the idea that they have both the responsibility and the ability to work political change in their surroundings. To make the work of improving the world one we all share lightly, with none struggling unduly.
But before we can ease this burden, we must learn to carry it as it is.
The beginning of this is conversation, one person to another. Specifics are impossible to describe. The matter of opening this subject is one of great nuance, context, and sensitivity. I don’t know if general advice could be made about such an interaction. I hope that it can, and that I can find it.
The loss of hope stems from the lack of decisive action. But action must follow from discussion and planning. That is still what is needed now. Discussion both to formulate plans, and to find common ground on what we need to achieve and where we should be putting our efforts.
For myself, I will keep my ears and eyes open, and try to speak up. Moving forward means all of these things together.
How to Save the World 