Category: Democratic News

Freedom is the power and right to live life as you see fit, in a manner that allows you to pursue your dreams and ambitions. A life of freedom is an empowering experience and a powerful source of happiness. It also gives your family, friends and community a sense of value and purpose. It is the foundation for a prosperous society.

People who lack freedom often feel dissatisfied in many ways. They may feel that they are not able to achieve their goals, have a fulfilling relationship or enjoy a good job. They may not have the financial means to achieve their desired lifestyle or be able to provide for themselves. They may be subject to constant negative influences or have difficulty breaking free from addictive habits.

A life without freedom is a lonely one and can lead to an endless cycle of dissatisfaction, resentment and self-pity. It is important that we encourage people to take risks, try new things and learn from their mistakes, as it leads to the feeling of accomplishment. This in turn boosts productivity, increases self-worth and promotes a positive attitude towards life. It also ensures that everyone feels valued and gives them the motivation to contribute to a healthy community that supports relationships, progress and prosperity.

Whether it is the closeness of your family, a good job and a career you are passionate about or a hobby that brings you joy, it is essential to maintain a balance between the activities that give your life meaning and those that distract you from what really matters. The best way to do that is through freedom, which allows each individual to determine their priorities and makes them accountable for their own actions.

Freedom is a fundamental human right, and it enables individuals to express themselves freely and make choices, decisions and pursue their life goals. It enables creativity, and it is a key ingredient for democracy. It is also the key to personal and societal growth.

What does freedom look like?

Freedom is commonly defined as the ability to do whatever you want, but it is actually much more complex than that. The freedom of choice is only complete when it doesn’t impose on the freedoms of others. For example, your freedom of choice is limited by your talents, wealth, family, job and cultural norms. On the other hand, the freedom of others is restricted by laws against murder, incest, burglary and so on.

The most obvious way that freedom benefits the economy is through free markets. When businesses can compete and offer the same products or services at a lower price, the consumer is better able to choose what is most suitable for their needs. This is how freedom creates a sustainable economy that works in the interest of each individual. The economic advantages of freedom are a direct result of the individual’s need to be productive and achieve a sense of self-fulfillment. Without this, they would be less likely to invest in their work and thus create a healthy economy.

Law is a set of rules that governs the behavior of people and their interactions with each other, and it is enforced by authorities to regulate and guide social order. Its precise definition is a subject of debate.

Generally, law is thought to include positive governing documents such as statutes and regulations, as well as judicial decisions and court rulings. Positive laws are generally written and enforceable, while court decisions may be based on a variety of sources, including legislative and regulatory enactments, as well as case law and other secondary sources.

The legal system varies from nation to nation. Some nations, such as the United States, operate under a common law system in which laws are derived from judicial decisions. In this type of system, judges review the facts and circumstances of a specific case and then issue a decision. These decisions become law by the “doctrine of stare decisis.” The U.S. and some other countries also have codified law systems in which laws are derived from a combination of judicial decisions, codes enacted by legislative bodies, and government agencies’ rulings based on statutes.

In many nations, law is a tool for achieving the political and social goals of the government and its citizens. For example, a nation may use its laws to keep peace and maintain the status quo, protect minorities from majorities, promote social justice, and allow for orderly social change. Some laws may be used to control the actions of individuals or groups, as in criminal or civil law. Other laws may be used to promote economic growth, as in tax law or trade agreements.

Even in well-ordered societies, disputes often arise between people. For example, when two people claim to own the same property, they may turn to the courts for resolution. The law gives judges the authority to resolve these conflicts in a fair and just manner.

The goal of the law is to ensure that all members of a society act in accordance with their rights and obligations and are held accountable for their actions. To do this, the legal system must define what those rights and obligations are, as well as provide a framework for enforcement.

In the broadest sense, the term law refers to a body of ideas that regulates people’s conduct and is enforced by controlling authorities through penalties. However, the term law is more commonly used to describe the enforceable rules that a government has in place to manage its affairs and maintain social stability.

The law is an ongoing process that requires regular re-evaluation and adaptation. This requires that the governing institutions, both legislative and executive, have a clear and shared understanding of the law. A clear and shared understanding also helps prevent corruption, cronyism, and abuse of power that can undermine the rule of law. The rule of law also requires adherence to principles of supremacy of the law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, independence of adjudication and the judiciary, participation in decision-making, avoidance of arbitrariness, legal certainty, and transparency.

Since the fall of Suharto in 1998, Indonesia has defied expectations and established democratic institutions. But illiberalism and religious polarisation have undermined democracy’s foundations.

Democracy is more than the absence of authoritarianism; it requires a functioning rule of law, pluralism, and a stable social contract that guarantees individual rights. It is also about the capacity to overcome vested interests and the tyranny of the majority. Despite Indonesia’s impressive record, it remains a country in transition.

A recurring challenge in many democracies is backsliding—the deterioration of democratic norms and processes, often with a reversal of the progress achieved during the consolidation phase. A well-documented trend around the world is that democracy in countries like Indonesia has stalled, with an increase in partisanship, polarisation, and the rise of Islamist politics.

In recent parliamentary elections, the PDI-P led by former president Megawati Sukarnoputri won over 100 seats in the Council of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat; DPR), followed by Golkar and Gerindra, both with around 85 seats each. Despite women enjoying full political rights and benefiting from 30 percent gender quotas for party steering committees, they remain underrepresented in electoral politics. Two ethnic Chinese parties, the Indonesian Solidarity Party and United Indonesia Party, contested the election, but both fell below the 4 percent threshold to win seats.

While the majority of Indonesians say they are very or somewhat satisfied with their lives, many do not engage in societal activities that promote democracy and civic participation. For example, fewer than one in five regularly participate in an organized protest or post online about political issues. A similar share say they would never attend a political speech.

Moreover, large shares say that they never or seldom talk to friends about political and social problems. The combination of these factors reflects the fact that Indonesians’ interpretation of democracy is influenced by their own particular cultural and social environment. Often, the promotion of democracy fails to take into account the role that culture can play in how individuals understand and experience democratic principles and processes.

A key question is whether the current government, led by President Joko Widodo, will be able to resist and contain the forces that are undermining democracy in Indonesia. So far, Jokowi has been unable to dislodge corrupt politicians and intolerant religious leaders from their positions of power. And his approach to tackling corruption has been insufficiently rigorous and transparent.

The government has made a number of moves that have increased the threat to democracy, including attempts to limit political freedoms and a crackdown on free speech during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also banned parties and individuals that advocate a return to authoritarian politics.

Generally, the Indonesian people enjoy broad freedoms of speech and association, but in some regions individuals face legal discrimination. In addition, LGBT+ people suffer from inflammatory and discriminatory rhetoric, attacks by hard-line Islamist groups, and sometimes direct persecution by local authorities.

Democracy means the “rule of the people.” It’s a system that gives citizens a say in how society is formed and managed, and it’s one that many believe is the best way to promote fairness and prosperity. It’s a concept that’s not without its challenges, though. For example, some countries with almost identical democratic systems seem to have different outcomes in terms of economic growth, social stability and political institutions.

The reason is likely because different countries have their own histories and cultural contexts, and these will impact the outcome of any democratic experiment. But a key thing to understand is that democracy is more than an electoral process and political rights – it’s about power and will, and how those are shared between citizens and institutions of the state. And it’s this relationship between the two that often causes tensions and conflicts.

A good place to start when understanding democracy is to look at how a country’s constitution and laws define the limits of the democracy. A good constitution will set out a clear framework of the state’s powers and provide checks and balances on these to prevent abuses of power by individuals or groups. This helps create the right balance between freedom and order, which is essential to any democracy.

Another important element of democracy is the idea that all people are free to think their own thoughts, and that their beliefs and opinions should be respected. This has been an important aspect of democracies from the very earliest days, although governments have tried to limit this right in the past. For instance, they may have locked up people for believing in ideas that go against the established religion or government of their time.

Lastly, most democratic systems have some form of equality between men and women. Usually this means that all citizens are equally able to participate in society and politics, which is necessary for the success of any democracy. But equality also means that all people should be treated with dignity, respect and fairness irrespective of their differences.

The simplest and most common form of democracy is the representative model, where citizens elect representatives to represent their interests in a parliament or council. These then make decisions for the whole population based on their perceptions of what’s important to the majority.

Some countries have a more direct form of democracy, where people vote directly for their representatives. But this can lead to the risk of inefficient representation and poor decision making. This model also has the potential to create resentment and anger, as those elected have the power to change people’s lives, for better or worse.

Whatever the type of democracy, it’s important for people to engage in the political process, either by voting or through other civic responsibility such as volunteering or activism. It’s also important to stay informed about what is being decided in your name, and to share your views with those who represent you if you disagree with their policies.

Democracy in America is at a critical inflection point that requires an immediate step-change in community support. The movement to save democracy must reach across racial, generational and class-cultural divides, while bringing in key societal pillars such as businesses and religious institutions. The goal should be to craft a vision for America’s future lived experience that elevates it above the divisive visions of the left and right.

Unlike other forms of government, democracy allows citizens to choose the leaders that rule them. As a result, democracy is not only the most representative form of government, but it also inspires patriotism and loyalty. However, the current moment is suffocating democracy in america with hatred, fear and anger. Americans need to regain trust in their democratic process, and the way to do that is through engagement, not confrontation.

Many organizations and philanthropists understand that the democratic system is at risk and are investing time and money in getting more people, minorities and swing voters to vote. But, these efforts are not enough. The American democratic system is in a vicious cycle that can be turned around by the same forces that led to India’s and Hungary’s decline into authoritarian regimes, or by the nearly one-hundred year reversal that followed Reconstruction in the United States.

These forces include money politics, which have turned inequality in economic status into inequality in political status by allowing only those with the most capital to participate fully in democratic processes. They include gerrymandering laws, which allow powerful states to tilt the playing field in favor of their own businesses and families. They include the emergence of a small group of elites who control the state apparatus, manipulate public opinion and enjoy all kinds of privileges.

The authoritarian movement is cultivating a story that puts men, Christianity and White people at the top of a status hierarchy. The pro-democracy community must remain inclusive and liberal, but it cannot write off these groups as unsavable or racist. To save democracy, the pro-democracy community must build alliances within these groups that are willing to support inclusive democracy.

To build a vision of a future living experience, the pro-democracy movement must address all the divisions in America. The most important is to speak to the deep needs for reassurance and status that have long plagued some groups. To do so, it must engage in a wide range of intragroup and cross-group dialogues to build trust and develop action plans. This will often be slow and under the radar. Yet, it is essential to a revitalized democracy in America and the world. It will take a great deal of patience and creativity, but it is well worth the investment. The alternative is a more dangerous and violent world. Let’s make this work.

Freedom is one of the most beautiful concepts in all of human existence. It signifies equality, opportunity and the ability to realize our full human potential. It is often viewed as the ultimate social goal and therefore deserves society’s greatest protection. However, what does freedom really look like? Is it simply the absence of constraint or does it require a certain something to achieve?

The concept of freedom has been a complex and controversial topic for centuries. Many philosophers have debated the idea and attempted to formulate a definition that encompasses both the negative and positive aspects of the concept. However, one of the most important things to keep in mind is that freedom is a process. Just like any other goal or ideal, it takes time and effort to achieve.

One of the most common misconceptions about freedom is that it is a state that can be achieved at once. While it is true that some people have a sense of freedom that they have never experienced before, there are also those who experience a lack of freedom after attaining it. The lack of freedom after attainment is not due to a lack of willpower or determination, but rather because of an inability to overcome the psychological and cognitive barriers that interfere with our ability to control and manage ourselves.

To understand how this happens, we need to examine the relationship between free will and causality. According to Immanuel Kant, we cannot have freedom of the will unless it is independent of the physical world and its laws. This is because we need to use our faculty of action in order to achieve a particular goal or end, but we must do so through a chain of causes that are not dependent upon our free will.

When we are unable to manage ourselves and our distractions, we lose the ability to work on anything of significance. This is why so many writers and other creatives disable their internet access while working – it’s impossible to write a book or create anything meaningful if you are constantly checking Facebook or Twitter. Even high-profile authors such as Jonathan Franzen have been known to turn off their internet when writing.

In this Freedom App Review we take a closer look at this popular app which helps users eliminate online distractions and get more work done. It works by blocking access to websites and apps that distract you and tracks your productivity with a simple timer.

Once you’ve logged into your account, you can select which apps or websites to block (they have pre-selected some of the most common ones) and specify how long you want to disable their connection for. It’s very easy to use and is compatible with all of your devices (even your mobile phone) so you can block the same sites on multiple machines and sync your sessions. The only downside is that there’s no free plan but the subscription pricing is pretty affordable, especially when you pay annually.

A set of rules enforced by a sovereign government to govern conduct and maintain order in society. Laws are created, enforced, and changed by the political process in order to protect individual rights, ensure social justice, promote economic growth, facilitate international relations, and maintain societal stability. The laws of a nation are usually written and codified through a legal system, which consists of judicial and administrative institutions. Law may also refer to the principles and practices of a given industry or field of knowledge, such as the laws of science, physics, or music.

A legal system differs from country to country, and even within a single country there is often significant variation. However, many systems share some common features based on historically accepted ideals of justice. A country’s security situation and current economy can impact its law-making processes as well.

The concept of law has been the subject of much debate and analysis by political scientists and philosophers. A common theme is the tension between the rule of law and the exercise of power. While the rule of law requires that government act in a morally correct manner, the reality is that governments are frequently corrupt or have interests that conflict with those of the citizenry.

Laws are generally based on custom and tradition rather than purely logical reasoning, and this is part of what makes them so difficult to change. In 1964, Fuller formulated a set of principles that he called “the inner morality of law.” These included the requirements that laws be general, public, prospective, coherent, clear, and stable. However, critics such as Hart saw these more as tools than morality, and he believed that the rule of law only worked in practice if it reflected the social realities of a particular time and place.

There are many different legal institutions in a country, including a judicial branch (courts and appellate courts) and an executive branch (the president, prime minister, cabinet, and other government officials). A court of law typically has a judge and several lawyers who represent parties or provide legal advice to the judges. Other legal functions include criminal prosecutions, which are handled by prosecutors, and civil litigation, which is generally overseen by public defenders who are assigned to cases where the defendant can’t afford an attorney. Probation is a sentencing alternative to imprisonment that involves monitoring convicted offenders released on probation. Be a law unto oneself means to take matters into one’s own hands, and to mete out justice as one sees fit without recourse to the normal legal channels of the community: “The townspeople took justice into their own hands when they murdered the sheriff.” These examples show that even in countries with established legal systems, the law can be used for both good and evil. However, some laws are more effective than others at promoting the rule of law and ensuring that people of all backgrounds receive the same basic level of protections.

In the decades since Suharto fell, Indonesia has made remarkable progress in building democracy, with a free press, multiple competing political parties and new leaders elected every five years. The country’s per capita income, freedom of association and the strength of a vibrant civil society also have improved. The question is whether these trends will hold up in the future.

Currently, the country is experiencing a crisis that threatens to derail the democratic gains of the past two decades. An entrenched elite with ties to the old regime, weak economic development, unequal health and education services and the activity of radical sectarian elements are creating a powerful undercurrent that may destabilize the system.

To counter these challenges, scholars have identified a number of key factors that contribute to the durability of democracies: a strong separation of religion and politics; clear ideological alignment between voters and politicians; and the existence of clearly identifiable opposing partisan camps with distinct identities and goals. Though Indonesia scores highly in all of these areas, the country still has a way to go to become a consolidated democracy.

A significant problem is the absence of a cohesive opposition that could function as a check on executive power. The only force capable of forming such a group is an assertive Islamist bloc that would likely clash with the secularism favored by most members of Indonesia’s elite class. This puts the country in a difficult position, in which it must weigh a desire to consolidate liberal values against the necessity of strengthening democratic representation and accountability.

The other key issue is a weakness in the rule of law. While the government’s record on corruption and rule of law enforcement has improved, the country is plagued by endemic corruption at local and regional levels. Many of these problems stem from the direct election of regional executives, which allows citizens to vote directly for their region’s governors, district heads and mayors. The practice has resulted in a system that is more prone to vote-buying than indirect elections in other longstanding democracies such as Australia, India and the United Kingdom.

Lastly, the emergence of a handful of militant Islamic groups has undermined Indonesia’s traditionally tolerant civil society. These groups have ties to the military and engage in violence against religious and secular groups, as well as private citizens, who are accused of failing to adhere to strict religious precepts. As a result, many Indonesians believe that their civil liberties are under threat and report feeling less safe than they did in the past. In the end, it will be up to civil society groups to ensure that the democratic gains of the past two decades are not eroded by an emerging authoritarian threat. But unless these groups can develop a coherent and compelling message that is capable of being heard by the general public, they are unlikely to be able to prevent the erosion of the democratic fabric in which the country has invested so much.

Democracy is the word used to refer to a political system that puts the people’s will, not a privileged group’s will, at the center of its decision-making. It involves the free participation of citizens in government, through periodic and genuine elections, where they express their will on matters that affect them directly and through representatives chosen freely.

The word democracy comes from the Greek words demos (people) and kratos (rule). It describes a form of governmental organization that developed in some of the city-states in the fifth century bce, including Athens. It is an idea with a powerful and enduring appeal, inspiring some of the most stirring speeches by leaders in human history—from Pericles in Athens to Vaclav Havel in modern Czechoslovakia. It is also a concept that is widely associated with certain values—equality, human rights, freedom and responsibility, etc.—that most people hold dear and that many would like to see reflected in the way their societies are run and the manner in which they live together.

There is no one clear definition of democracy, though most involve the principle of popular sovereignty—in Abraham Lincoln’s words, a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Democracy has also been defined as a process of choosing a government through regular and genuine elections, wherein the population chooses a representative to act on their behalf in the country they live in. It is also a principle that states that people have the right to discuss ideas with others and to meet and organize in groups to protest decisions they oppose or disagree with, even if these activities are inconvenient for governments.

In terms of the individuals who make up the demos, some philosophers have argued that democracy cultivates in its participants qualities like autonomy, rationality, activity, and morality. This is the reason some favor it over other forms of government, including monarchy and aristocracy.

But other scholars argue that these virtues are not innate to democracy, and furthermore that they may be undermined by democratic institutions, such as electoral fraud, corruption, poverty, and weak rule of law. In addition, the fact that a minority of people have more influence over democracy than the majority makes the possibility of negative effects a real threat.

A further problem is that it takes time for the different facets of people’s lives to find organized political expression. Thus, some issues may have to wait a long time for their voices to be heard—such as the exploitation of the poor by the rich, the environmental impact of industrial society, or the need for women’s participation in politics (UDHR Article 20).

The nature and extent of democracy’s influence on individual and social life depends largely on prevailing political, cultural, and economic conditions. Democracy can also be eroded by temporary or long-term political violence, and by government interference in the electoral process. It can also be weakened by social divisions and ethnic tensions, the prevalence of religious fundamentalism, or discrimination in hiring and housing.

One of democracy’s core principles is the idea that all citizens are treated equally, with justice and freedom of choice. This balance is essential to a healthy society and a prosperous economy. It requires compromise and collaboration, and the willingness of people to give up some personal preferences for the greater good. It is a delicate balance and the health of democracy depends on many factors, including voting rights, government performance and public trust. The recent loss of confidence in the US government is raising alarms that democracy has hit a critical inflection point. A 2022 report from the Brookings Institution states that the US is experiencing a deep, systemic democratic crisis, which poses a threat to the economic and social health of America. And according to a study by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the US has become more erratic and irrational as democracy has been eroded at home.

In the late 19th century, Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville visited America and wrote Democracy in America. Tocqueville saw a country in the midst of a whirlwind transformation. Manifest destiny was physically expanding the nation from sea to shining sea, and industrialization was rapidly changing America’s agrarian lifestyle into a capitalist society. This transformation, although it improved living standards for many Americans, also aggravated sectional tensions between North and South.

At the same time, American democracy was experiencing an unprecedented level of political polarization. The norms of democracy—self-restraint in the exercise of power and a rejection of violence—were eroding rapidly. The Supreme Court had become politicized, and partisan battles had reached even the most insular of institutions.

Many scholars and pundits today agree that the US is not living up to the ideals of democracy. Some worry that democracy is in serious decline and that the US will no longer be able to serve as a model for other countries to follow. Certainly, the international community is questioning whether or not the US should continue to export American democratic values abroad, which only fuels distrust and encourages bloc-based confrontation.

Tocqueville’s warnings are more relevant than ever. It is clear that the United States needs to reflect on its internal democracy and make substantial changes. The country should also pragmatically reassess its foreign policy methods and focus on cooperation instead of confrontation.

This digital edition of Democracy in America includes a full set of footnotes and links to the original works that Tocqueville referenced while researching and writing the book. It was edited by Alan Keely, retired Associate Director for Collection Services at Wake Forest Law School. HeinOnline is proud to partner with him to provide students and researchers this innovative new way to explore this important work. HeinOnline’s unique tools enable users to jump from the pages of Democracy in America into the original sources it references. For more on this and other groundbreaking new digital content from HeinOnline, visit HeinOnline’s Constitutional Law Library. Copyright notice: Text is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND). It may be archived and redistributed for noncommercial use only, with attribution to the author and a link to this copyright notice.