2 stories, 2 messages, collide today about Today's Democracy.
The first story is tonight's Iowa Caucuses. Voters in Iowa can take the first step in our nation's democratic process for electing presidential candidates by attending a local caucus. There we can indicate who we prefer as presidential candidates from among the current gaggle of Republican and Democratic Party candidates. We do that by attending a local gathering where we literally stand by our candidate and our preference is counted. Quaint, at least by MSM pundits. On the other hand, it's open and transparent and accountable. Messy and boisterous, like democracy can and should be.
If you're not familiar with the Iowa Caucuses, then just Google that phrase. You'll find plenty of links as a result.
The other story....is a recent report that shows as a nation we rank at the top with a group of other nations where government invasion of citizen privacy is described as endemic. Wired's Top Surveillance Societies. That term, endemic, is defined as natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous. A synonym for endemic in this case would be systemic.
We're joined at the top of this list by countries like Russia and China, to name a few. Their reputations as bastions of individual liberty, guarded zealously by their government, needs no discussion.
What does need discussion is how we came to join this group, along with China and Russia, to be described as endemic surveillance societies. Is it cookies monitoring our websites, ostensibly to deliver more appropriate advertising? Is it a beacon that broadcasts to our friends our every activity with no easy optout? Is it warrantless searches whose original beginnings keep beginning earlier and earlier in 2001? Is it a growing number of cities using a network of surveillance cameras? Is it search engines that store our searches for years? Is it a new national-id system or a passport that's needed now to visit our neighbors, former friends it now seems?
How did we as a nation come to share endemically with Russia and China the same lack of respect for individual privacy?
Remember the claims in the years past that we represent freedom and they represent oppression? Hard to know who's the enemy these days when it's likely your own citizens would fail a blind test to indeitify which country's practices would most violate their privacy?
How, with our Constitution and Bill of Rights (the Bill of Rights being that document that included the 4th Amendment that gives us the right to be secure in their persons, papers, house and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and...no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation...) have we reached this point?
Why am I blogging about these flash-point topics like democracy and bill of rights and 4th amendment and freedom of expression and the unfettered ability to share varying viewpoints?
Their very presence allow an engaged citizenry to participate in the growth and progress of their country. That participation makes that country united, strong, integrated, flexible, globally competitive, vibrant, innovative, wealthy, a beacon, a shining light of what's possible with a community based on inidividual freedom.
And their disappearance signals an end to that.
Remember, these qualities and how we've manifested them through freedom and liberty, protected by our Constitution and our democracy and our 3 branches of government, are what have made us a shining example as a nation, a beacon of hope for many. They have made us great in so many ways by building our nation with respect and rapport, trust and collaboration with our partners around the world.
By coincidence, these are the same qualities that engage a company's staff and customers and partners. A company won't have a Constitution, probably. But they will have a mission statement and a culture whose openness and transparency, respect for the individual, bring clearly communicated goals that benefit all and that culture is endemic...And it would be a company that would serve as a shining example, a beacon of hope, for all companies that there is a way to engage your staff and your customers, partners and community, to create something that brings opportunity and dignity to all. A brand that warrants their pride and passion and commitment and hard work.
If you live in Iowa, get out there tonight in subzero windchills and stand in a corner of a cold meeting room to make your voice heard. ( I'm leaving in a few minutes.) And if you're in the other states...wait your turn and when it comes around then stand and be heard.
Be a beacon of one. Then find a few more. There's a lot of people who need that hope. We can provide it as we have for 2 plus centuries.
Then go to work and do the same. Start the tradition now.
