LETTERS FROM ACROSS AMERICA handwritten & typed, polished & rough
Often Forgotten: Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens participate equally—either directly or indirectly through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social, religious, cultural, ethnic and racial equality, justice, liberty and fraternity. The term originates from the Greek "rule of the people"
Whic h GA NG d R oy ed, B Whe l ue o o u b e l o n re di r Pur g to d al l A pa p t h e t r iot is PAT le? a s tr RIO so ong s uppo meone w TS go? ho rt for their feels I t t ak c o un es c o try. u Geor rage to b g e e a lea Democracy contrasts with forms Thom Washin gton der: a s of government where power is J effer Abra so ha either held by one person, as in a Harr m Linco n ln y monarchy, or where power is Rona Truman Who Allow l d held by a small number of c ould R i be ad e a ga n othe ng two p individuals, as in an ded t r is a olitic o thi a repr oligarchy. Nevertheless, s list esen l opposin ? t a g Allow tive g these oppositions, inherited r oups demo ing is t o allow crac the k from Greek philosophy, y or exist in h demo one ( another, ey word are now ambiguous . Allo even crati armony t y o u) c w o in th does i s ab repu ing is because contemporary ei le n blic. each nega ot appro to be th r not allo when on governments have mixed a v tive emot e of wha t which wing of t e (you) i democratic, oligarchic, on sw he ions t one towa (you e (you) i other (y illing to The g and monarchic elements. r ) s d o u) , i s s; ev the o diver reatness ther’ and one en when ; when Karl Popper defined of th sity w ( s tho eU ith a ught you) not the other democracy in contrast llowa nited St s fee abo u at nce w t one l to dictatorship or ithin es of Am (you er the b ). tyranny, thus focusing ound ica is bas a r ie s e d on on opportunities for the people of its ’ soci to control their leaders and to oust them ety. without the need for a revolution.
Several variants of democracy exist, but there are two basic forms, both of which concern how the whole body of all eligible citizens executes its will. One form of democracy is direct democracy, in which all eligible citizens have direct and active participation in the decision making of the government. In most modern democracies, the whole body of all eligible citizens remain the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives; this is called representative democracy or democratic republic. The concept of representative democracy arose largely from ideas and institutions that developed during the European Middle Ages, the Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment, and the American and French Revolutions.
The content of Letters from America are submissions from amateurs writers and not the expressed opinions of Vigoré Chicago magazine. Vigoré Chicago magazine takes the “observer” position providing an outlet for voices to be heard. The names of the contributors have been omitted for their protection. Vigoré invites opinions of our readers for publication in future on-line or in-print issue of Vigoré. 14