“The result of cutting [political power] up into little bits is simply that the man who can sweep the greatest number into one heap will govern the rest... In a pure democracy the ruling men will be the wirepullers and their friends; but they will no more be on an equality with the voters than soldiers of Ministers of State are on an equality with the subjects of monarchy.” MenLittlesStatesPoliticalBitsResultsNumbersDemocracyCuttingSubjectsHe ManPureLittle BitSoldierMinistersVotersRulingMonarchyPolitical Power Book:Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Source: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
“Investment that only goes to enrich an already wealthy elite bent on monopolizing both economic and political power cannot contribute toward égalité and justice - the foundation stones for a sound democracy.” PoliticalSoundJusticeDemocracyEconomicStonesFoundationInvestmentWealthyElitesBentPolitical PowerMonopolizing Author:Aung San Suu Kyi
“New information technologies-including email, the web, and computerized blast-faxes and phone calls-have fundamentally changed the landscape of political competition in modern democracies. They've done so in three ways: by dramatically boosting the access of individuals and special interests to politically potent information, by making it easier for such people to coordinate their activities and exert political power, and by greatly increasing the pace of events within our political systems.” PeopleWayDonePoliticalThreePoliticsIndividualInterestTechnologyDemocracyModernSpecialEventsInformationChangedInternetEasierActivityCompetitionIncludingPhonesAccessLandscapePaceEmailBlastPolitical SystemsPhone CallsInformation TechnologyPolitical PowerSpecial InterestsCoordinatesNew InformationThree WaysFax Author:Thomas Homer-Dixon
“Worldwide, the twentieth century has seen the rise of extraordinary concentrations of economic and political power - evoking the people as the source of power while simultaneously privatizing its most meaningful exercise. Democracy always seems to be at least slightly elusive under such conditions.” PeopleSeemsPoliticalDemocracyEconomicConditionsCenturySourceExerciseExtraordinaryMeaningfulConcentrationTwentieth CenturyElusivePolitical PowerMost Meaningful Author:Thomas L. Dumm
“The question is, how do you stop the power elite from doing as much damage to you as possible? That comes through movements. It's not our job to take power. You could argue that the most powerful political figure in April of 1968 was Martin Luther King. And we know Johnson was terrified of him. We have to accept that all of the true correctives to American democracy came through these movements that never achieved formal political power and yet frightened the political establishment enough to respond.” KnowsEnoughJobsPoliticalPowerfulAcceptingDemocracyFiguresMovementKingsArguingDamageMost PowerfulFrightenedEstablishmentElitesFormalTerrifiedLutherAprilJohnsonPolitical PowerAmerican Democracy Author:Chris Hedges