Thoughts on Politics and Such (Maybe It's a Blog?)

Democracy (Wed Feb 11 2004)

In today's world, too many people confound "democracy" with freedom or liberty. Democracy is a means, liberty is an end. Bringing democracy to this or that country may be doing little for an oppressed population. We shall see what betides in Iraq, if the sole goal is to establish "democracy" there.

Historically, democracy has had a mixed record. The ancient Athenians, who invented it, found that there was no reason why a democracy could not have a slave culture. Citizens could vote, helots could serve. The nascent American nation likewise saw no conflict between voting and slavery of an "inferior race," as the slaveholders and slave-traders saw the African.

Aha, you say, but there was no universal suffrage. Only Athenian citizens, or white male real property owners could vote. That is why helots or persons imported from Africa could be held in bondage and women could be considered chattels of their fathers or husbands.