Jim Smith

Democracy and the Future of the Quest for Freedom Ninth Installment “The very design of neoliberal principles is a direct attack on democracy.” ― Noam Chomsky, Hopes and Prospects   In this week’s blog in this series on the future of democracy and the quest for freedom, we will expose the anti-democratic nature of neoliberalism…

Democracy and the Future of the Quest for Freedom Eighth Installment “A state of shock is produced when a story is ruptured… Trump is not a rupture at all, but rather the culmination – the logical end point – of a great many dangerous stories our culture has been telling for a very long time.…

Democracy and the Future of the Quest for Freedom Seventh Installment   “This is the permanent tension that lies at the heart of a capitalist democracy and is exacerbated in times of crisis. In order to ensure the survival of the richest, it is democracy that has to be heavily regulated rather than capitalism.” ―…

Democracy and the Future of the Quest for Freedom, Sixth Installment   This week we will continue to evaluate the quality of democracy in the United States by looking at how and if the rule of law is applied equally to all citizens. A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally…

Democracy and the Future of the Quest for Freedom Fifth Installment “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” – Nelson Mandela This week we will continue to evaluate the quality of democracy in the United States by looking at the protection of human rights of all citizens. Protection of the…

  Democracy and the Future of the Quest for Freedom Fourth Installment “The few own the many because they possess the means of livelihood of all … The country is governed for the richest, for the corporations, the bankers, the land speculators, and for the exploiters of labor. The majority of mankind are working people.…

Democracy and the Future of the Quest for Freedom Third Installment If we desire a society of peace, then we cannot achieve such a society through violence. If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society. If we desire a society that is…

  Democracy: The Institutionalization of Freedom Trust is contingent on the evidence which one party provides the others of his true, concrete intentions; it cannot exist if that party’s words do not coincide with their actions. To say one thing and do another – to take one’s own words lightly – cannot inspire trust. To…

Democracy and the Future of the Quest for Freedom  “We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.”                                          …

Trust is contingent on the evidence which one party provides the others of his true, concrete intentions; it cannot exist if that party’s words do not coincide with their actions. To say one thing and do another – to take one’s own words lightly – cannot inspire trust. To glorify democracy and to silence the…