Just to warm you up for writing an intention for the Second Paradigm of Democracy, let us examine what we do not want in a democracy. Do we want social change to become the cause of social, political and economic revolutions? NO. Do we want great disparities of wealth to exist? NO. (For example, consider that the same forces of revolution that preceded the French Revolution in 1789 exist today in developed democracies: special privileges for those in positions of authority, incredibly wide disparities of social equity and social justice and very little hope for the poor of being able to advance themselves.) Should a democratic society tolerate broad social conditions that usually transpire into social violence? NO.
Do we still believe that the existence of democratic governments is based on the authority of its citizens? YES. Do we still believe that citizens are ultimately responsible with every other citizen for the conduct of their society and government? YES. Should the Second Paradigm of Democracy strive to protect citizens from social predation, and enhance their capability to become social assets of greater value so that they are more capable of participating co-responsibly with their public executives in the responsibilities of their governance? YES. Would we want the same or better democratic conditions for our great, great grandchildren into the decades and centuries ahead? YES. Would that include social, political and economic stability? YES.
Everything that we have discussed above requires decisions. How we make those decisions is based on what we BELIEVE is true. Rarely, though, do we look to see what our beliefs are based upon — the VALUES that support our way of life and our existence. As example, the values stated in the Declaration of Independence, (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness), have served this and other democracies with the ability to make excellent decisions that support a democratic way of life. But because of the slow creep of social change, they have proven by themselves incapable of moving democratic nations into a sustainable democratic way of life — the Second Paradigm of Democracy — with a socially, politically and economically sustainable future. Additional values are needed for decision-making that will have the capability of creating stable, socially sustainable democracies into the centuries ahead.
What values then do we need to make decisions that develop a sustainable Vision, Intention, Philosophy and Mission for socially, politically and economically sustainable democratic nations? Answer: The same values that have sustained our species for over 250,000 years — quality of life, growth and equality.
Do we still believe that the existence of democratic governments is based on the authority of its citizens? YES. Do we still believe that citizens are ultimately responsible with every other citizen for the conduct of their society and government? YES. Should the Second Paradigm of Democracy strive to protect citizens from social predation, and enhance their capability to become social assets of greater value so that they are more capable of participating co-responsibly with their public executives in the responsibilities of their governance? YES. Would we want the same or better democratic conditions for our great, great grandchildren into the decades and centuries ahead? YES. Would that include social, political and economic stability? YES.
Everything that we have discussed above requires decisions. How we make those decisions is based on what we BELIEVE is true. Rarely, though, do we look to see what our beliefs are based upon — the VALUES that support our way of life and our existence. As example, the values stated in the Declaration of Independence, (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness), have served this and other democracies with the ability to make excellent decisions that support a democratic way of life. But because of the slow creep of social change, they have proven by themselves incapable of moving democratic nations into a sustainable democratic way of life — the Second Paradigm of Democracy — with a socially, politically and economically sustainable future. Additional values are needed for decision-making that will have the capability of creating stable, socially sustainable democracies into the centuries ahead.
What values then do we need to make decisions that develop a sustainable Vision, Intention, Philosophy and Mission for socially, politically and economically sustainable democratic nations? Answer: The same values that have sustained our species for over 250,000 years — quality of life, growth and equality.