There is a "Problem" with Democratic Governments! It is called "Mediocrity"... and it is the "Mean" (Average) Consciousness that drives Institutions of a Democratic Society.
 

One of the Saving Graces of Democracy is "Common Sense". But in the Highly Manipulated and Indoctrinated World of today... Common Sense is having a very hard time in Balancing Out the Inadequacies of a continually evolving "Unnatural" State of Social Consciousness due to the Artificial Constructs of Mankind over the Centuries... and to the Corporate Power Structures that have rapidly evolved over the course of the last Century.

The 21st Century is going to be Historically Recorded as the "Critical Turning Point" in Human Existence and in the way Humans (both Individually and Collectively) Relate to Their Environment, Other Life Forms, and Ecology. That is of course... if there is a World left that can Sustain any "Higher Forms" of Biological Existence. As the "Truth and Consequences" of the 20th Century became more and more evident in its conclusion... We (the Human Race) have already pushed the Natural Environment beyond its Sustainable Limits. Unless Technology can come up with some really Fantastic Solutions... We are already past the "Point of No Return".

It has been proverbially observed that in general "People only Change when they Have to". While there are always those who "Call Out the Warnings"... Who confront the Reality of the Day and try to Reason with the Unreasonable... and who are typically Ignored by a Relatively Ignorant and Complacent Society and Government... they are typically a very small Minority of any given population. They are the Heroes... the Imminent Saviors of every Society in its attempt to Grow and Evolve in a Progressive and Positive Direction... a direction of Greater Love and Truth... and Essential Holistic Health of All Peoples and the Planet They Inhabit.

But... there is always that "Factor" that every Society has to deal with and confront... that Embraces Ignorance and Fear and Pettiness and Greed... and resists Reason and Compassion and "Growth". That Factor is called "Mediocrity"... and is the Bane of any Democratic Society.

Obviously, we have to put "Mediocrity" in its rightful "Context". The fact is... We are all "Mediocre" in many ways. Even the Intellectual and Spiritual Giants throughout History have had their Mediocre Side. And when we talk of the "Factors" that are the "Most Destructive" and Cancerous to a Society... Mediocrity (in comparison) seems rather benign in nature.

What I am referring to here is Mediocrity in terms of an Aspect of a Social System... one that both Stimulates and Restricts the "Human Condition". Specifically, I am talking mostly about "Government"... but the dynamic can be applied to All Social Institutions (such as Education and Religion). Furthermore, I am talking about the Influence and Power of Corporate Entities to Effect Government and all of the other Institutions of a Democratic Society. Overall, I am talking about the Overall "Artificial Constructs" of Social Evolution that Subvert Our Natural Ability to Reason Effectively... and to use Our Basic Faculty of "Common Sense" to come to the Best Conclusions in Relations to not only Our Own Personal Welfare... but to the Welfare of Society in General... and the World at Large.

As Citizens of a Democratic Society... and Indeed "Citizens of The World"... We have both the Opportunity and Responsibility to Effect Our Country and World in an Essential Positive and Progressive Way... and that's with Our VOTE! We have to Insure that Our Vote COUNTS... and that Our Vote is an INFORMED VOTE. We have to Maintain "Sanity" in Our Institutions... and ensure that They Serve the Interests of "The People" first... and not Corrupt Corporations or Other Entrenched Special Interest Groups that are in a continual Mode of Persuasion and Indoctrination to "Their Benefit"... Not the People's.

As Citizen's of a Society with a Democratic Political System and a Capitalistic Economic System... We have to confront the Reality that these Systems can either "Serve the People's Interest and Welfare"... or they can "Serve the Corporate Interest and Welfare". Ideally, they "Serve Both"... in a way that is Constructively Beneficial to Humanity, Wild Life, The Environment, and the World as a Living Breathing Organism. The "Artificial Constructs" of Humanity (like Corporations) are not "Evil" in and of themselves... any more than Individuals are. Yet Individuals... along with Institutions and Corporate Entities can all have a Negative and Cancerous Effect on All Aspects of "Life on Earth".

Through Holistic Education (rather than Indoctrination) and Personal Commitment and Activism... The People of a Democratic Society can literally "MOVE" the Structural Evolution of Its Government and Other Social Institutions in the Direction of Positive Progressive Change. The "Mediocrity Factor" can be "Lessoned" from year to year... until it becomes just another Inconsequential Nuisance to an Empowered Purposeful and Enlightened Majority. As Individuals, We can "not only" Improve the "Mediocrity" in Our Own Personal Lives... We can Change and Improve Our Immediate Local Government and Social Institutions... along with the various "Design & Structures" of Government that contribute to the Mediocrity in Our Society and Institutions.

For Citizens of The United States... that does not mean that We "Change or Undermine" the "Spirit" of Our Constitution... but rather Promote and Enforce its Essential Intent. For example, the Founding Fathers thought that the "Party System" and the "Central Bank" would be one of the many "Potential Downfalls" of Our Political and Economic Systems... and would undermine the "Essential Intent & Purpose" of Our New Government. Looking back from the perspective of Today... its seems more than obvious that they were "Right On". I'm sure, if they had any Idea that the "Evolved Business Entity" called the Corporation could and would become the Potentially Destructive Force it is today to Our Essential Freedoms and Personal Welfare and Global Habitat... they would have Emphatically "Warned" future generations against that Potential Cancer also.

Does that mean that We should literally "Eliminate" the Party System and the Banking System and the Corporation from Our Society in order to "Remove the Cancer" that is (in many ways) Killing Us! Not Necessarily! But We do need to "Modify" them to better "Serve Our Needs" and the "Needs of Mother Nature". Each one "Can Be" Positive Constructive Factors in the Essential Evolution of Humanity. But... not in the "Structural Form" or Social Paradigm they are in Today!

We Desperately Need Change in All of Our Institutions... Especially Government. Primarily, We need to get Corporations and their Lobbyists out of Congress and Out of Government. We need to Create a "Means" for "Good Candidates" to Rise to Office... and a Means for them to Campaign without having to resort to Corporate Money and Corporate Interests. We need to Create a Political Environment where Our "Public Servants" can Serve the Interests of The People Better... and not have to Spend the great majority of their Time and Energy in "Raising Money for Elections and ReElections". It's way past time for the "Corporate Whores" in Government to be Vigorously Booted from Politics (in whatever form it takes) and sent back to the "Overly Mediocre" (or Deluded) Turfs that Elected Them. Some should actually be Thrown in Jail... and kept there.

The Mediocrity of Our Personal Existence is something that We All have to "Work On" Enthusiastically... All Our Lives. Striving for Excellence as Individuals and as Communities and as Nations is of the Utmost Importance in Raising the "Mediocrity Factor" in the Structural Dynamics of Our Governments and Social Institutions. Until We "Seize the Day" (Carpe Diem) and Rise to the Challenges that confront Us both Individually and Collectively... We will continually be treated as Second Class Citizens by the Ruling Elite (Rich and Powerful) and We will continue to be Disillusioned and Disappointed in Our Elected Officials and those in "Public Service" within Our Various Institutions.

The 21st Century though... is destined to Be A "Major Climax" in the Dramatic Chronicles of Human History... for better or worse. At no other Time has Civilization been confronted with such Dire Consequences of "Losing" the battle between Essentially "Love and Truth" and "Fear and Ignorance". On a more Pragmatic Level... it is a Battle between "Those Who Enslave" and "Those Who Would Set Free"... between "Those Who Live Responsibly and Peacefully with Nature" and "Those Who Destroy".  Ironically, for the Sake of Human Life on Earth... there can only be One Winner in this Epic Struggle. Because, in the Final Chapter... it will be Mother Earth who decides "Who Lives" and "Who Dies". If the Tyrants of Humanity and the Mindless Corporate Parasites of Human and Natural Resources Win... then We All Lose. Everyone!

Perhaps the Fact that Ultimately "Mother Earth" has to Win in this Final Showdown of Man against Nature... may be the Only Thing that Saves Us. So far, Humanity has averted Nuclear War because of the Stark Realization that "Nobody Can Win". It's the same with Nations that continue to Pollute and Abuse Our Natural Resources and Disregard Human and Animal Rights. The only difference... is the Death will be Slower and far more Painful. But... in the end... We All Will Be Dead; The consequence of a World too Blind, Deaf and Dumb to See what is so Obviously in Front of Them; Too Mediocre to Change Our Perilous Ways!
 

"The Mediocrity" as a Group is a Majority Today... though that Position in Society is Fast and Furiously Changing. The General Public is becoming better Informed each and every day. The "Dumbing Down" of America and the People of the World is gradually abetting. People are "Waking Up" to the Sham and Scam that the Status Quo has been Playing on Common Folk for Decades upon Decades... even Centuries upon Centuries. Soon... the Mediocrity will be the Minority... and change will become even more rapid. Locally, People out of necessity will start becoming more "Active" in Politics and the Community Institutions that are meant to Serve the Essential Interest of "The People" and Land... rather than the Sole Interest of The Institution Itself... and those Who Exploit It.

There Will Be Those Who Courageously Stand on the Side of Love and Truth and Life... Risking Their Security and even Lives for the Sake of "Life" Itself. And then there Will Be Those (The Mediocrity) Who Stand on Their Knees with the Fearful and Ignorant and Spiritually Dead... Justifying Their Petty Existence with Illicit Wealth and Power (or Social Approval)... Denying in Others that which they deny in themselves... Love and Compassion and Truth.

The Question is Though... "Whose Side Will YOU Be On"?

For a Better Informed & Involved Public...

Lonnie J. Burris

Activist & Concerned Citizen