Problems With "The Experiment"



Growing up it was common to hear U.S. democracy referred to as "The American Experiment."

I never hear it anymore. 

During the growth phase of a nation, the experiment works fine because money pours in with the building of cities, businesses, infrastructure. Look at China.

But what happens after 200+ years and maturity sets in? 

The easy money is gone, and democracy — based on majority rule — becomes disfunctional. Majority doesn't necessarily mean smart, informed, correct or fair. It just means more.

Perhaps in the end the experiment doesn't work because spin and control become more important than solving difficult problems. 

It is not easy to fix a culture of quantity over quality. Pursuit of short-term gains worked for a few decades, but now we face the long-term ramifications: a broken economy, fast food as national cuisine, poor educational rankings and intense global competition we never saw coming.

Can a majority be relied upon to solve large, uncomfortable problems? 

I guess we'll find out between commercials, the latest playoff games and American Idol.
Posted by RonConCocaCola at 5/1/2011 12:02 PM
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: The American Experiment Majority Rule Democracy
 

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  • 6/10/2011 9:33 AM Global Province Smith wrote:
    Ron: you are talking about the right stuff. your 3-way was just sent to us. we will have to reallylook at this blog later. oddly enough we once counselled the school of visual arts because it was around the corner from our offices. i hear the rainstorm cooled things off
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