“Industrial capitalism brought representative democracy, but with a weak public mandate and inert citizenry. The digital age offers a new democracy based on public deliberation and active citizenship.” AgeDemocracyOffersCapitalismWeakActiveDigitalRepresentativesCitizenshipMandatesDigital AgeDeliberationCitizenryActive Citizenship Author:Don Tapscott
“What frightens me about America today is that in the large majority there is no active sense of the value of the individual: few citizens feel that they are the Republic, responsible for what happens. And when the individual in a democracy ceases to feel his importance, then there is grave danger that he will give over his freedom, if not to a Fascist State, then to the advertising men or Publicity Agents or to the newspaper he happens to read.” IfsMenGivingFeelsStatesHappensTodayAmericaValuesIndividualUnited StatesDemocracyDangerCitizensImportanceResponsibleMajorityActiveNewspapersGravesCeaseAdvertisingAgentsRepublicPublicityFascistsAmerica Today Author:May Sarton
“I am still baffled by those who feel that criticizing America is unpatriotic, a view increasingly being adopted in the United States since 9/11 as an excuse to render suspect what has always been an American right. An active, brave, outspoken (and heard) citizenry is essential to a healthy democracy.” FeelsStillsStatesAmericaUnitedViewsUnited StatesDemocracyHeardHealthyEssentialsBraveExcuseActiveSuspectsCriticizeAdoptedCitizenryOutspokenBaffledUnpatrioticBeing Adopted Book:My Life So Far Source: My Life So Far
“I guess 35 years ago, I thought we had more of a democracy than we actually do. Majority support doesn't help unless the majority is active and votes - but the opposition minority votes a much greater proportion, so we often lose by a narrow margin.” YearsHelpingLosesSupportDemocracyGreaterYears AgoVoteMajorityActiveProportionOppositionMinoritiesMargins Author:Gloria Steinem
“In the days of democracy there is no such thing as active loyalty to a person. You are, therefore, loyal or disloyal to institutions.” PersonsDemocracyInstitutionsActiveLoyaltyLoyalDisloyal Book:Gandhi: Selected Political Writings Source: Gandhi: Selected Political Writings
“In this world which is losing faith in so called representative democracy, there are new developments in participatory democracy. These are very interesting developments, reflecting the revitalization of community power with a more and more active presence of minorities in political life, including the presence of women who are of course by no means a minority.” WorldMeanPoliticalCoursesCommunityInterestingDemocracyThis WorldDevelopmentLosingIncludingActiveMinoritiesRepresentativesVery InterestingReflectingPolitical LifeLosing FaithParticipatory DemocracyRevitalization Author:Eduardo Galeano
“We want no dictatorship of physicists, as physicists. If our democracy is to realize its full promise, we want no dictatorship at all - of any species. What we want and need is the enlightened and active interest of all men of intelligence and goodwill in their government, and their participation in its functions.” IfsMenWantNeedsGovernmentInterestRealizingDemocracyPromiseFunctionSpeciesIntelligenceActiveEnlightenedDictatorshipParticipationPhysicistGoodwillWants And Needs Author:Jerome Frank
“Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East did nothing to make us safe because in the long run stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty. ... The global wave of democracy has barely reached the Arab states. For too long, many people in that region have been victims and subjects. They deserve to be active citizens.” PeopleYearsLongHas BeensStatesRunningNationsLibertyDemocracyMiddleSubjectsCitizensSafeDeserveVictimWesternWaveActiveEastRegionsExpensesStabilityMiddle EastLong RunsSixtyDemocracies Have Author:George W. Bush
“There is nothing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens doing the daily work of democracy, and no problem too great to tackle with the power of active citizenship.” ProblemDemocracyCitizensOrdinaryActiveCitizenshipNo ProblemDaily WorkOrdinary CitizensActive Citizenship Author:Joan Claybrook
“My start in politics was watching my parents go to the polls on election day. It reminded me that being an active, engaged citizen and voter is critical to the success of our democracy.” ParentDemocracyCitizensElectionCriticalActiveEngagedVotersPollsElection Day Author:Josh Earnest
“I'm sort of always trying to reinvent and recreate a better way of being, because, you know, democracy has been "the worst of all political systems except for all the rest." So I think we have a lot of room to grow and be a better society, and it's a constant battle. It's an exciting opportunity to be active.” ThinkingKnowsWayTryingHas BeensPoliticalOpportunityGrowsRoomsDemocracyWorstBattleExcitingConstantActiveAlways TryingBetter WaysPolitical SystemsDemocracies Have Author:Adrian Grenier
“I don't care if you're a liberal icon or a conservative icon. If you are not willing to be active in your democracy and do what is necessary to deal with our problems, I think you should be voted out.” IfsThinkingShouldProblemCareDealsDemocracyWillingConservativeDon't CareActiveI Don't CareIcons Author:Hillary Clinton