In the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, everyone seems to agree that democracy is broken and needs to be fixed.

            The system is broken, yes. But what I see people doing to fix it isn’t fixing it.

            TV shows Clinton crowds parading with placards such as, “Not my president.” Protesters chant slogans in front of Trump towers. Had Trump lost, no doubt similar crowds would denounce Clinton’s victory. Although they might be carrying more than placards.

            People seem to feel any election is rigged if their side doesn’t win.

            But democracy does not consist of removing unpopular politicians by mass protests. Nor is democracy a succession of referenda, on everything from declaring war to naming a ship.

            When people talk about democracy, they commonly quote the definition “of the people, by the people, for the people.” Those words, however, do not come from any legal document or constitution. They come from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address – 270 words hastily scribbled on a sheet of lined paper.

            In fact, there is no definition of democracy. There is, rather, a consensus that democracy is a system of government in which the people elect representatives, freely, without coercion.

More than popular support

            If only popular support mattered, Trump’s election campaign would be a triumph of democracy. He was not elected by party machinery. Rather, he and his followers trampled all over party traditions, to get to the White House.

            But democracy is not just about winning. It’s about compromise, collaboration, and delegation.

            In his book Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari argues that only at the village level can every voice be heard. A village that feels threatened by neighbouring villages cannot afford to have dissidents. Even a single unhappy member could betray the whole village.

            But as communities get bigger, every voice can’t be heard. You have to trust someone to represent you – a chief, a matriarch, a council.

            At state and nation levels, individuals must relinquish more and more of their personal influence to their representatives. In return, the larger unit provides security. Former enemies can work together, despite their differences, because a professional police force keeps them from killing each other.

            At least, that’s Harari’s theory.

            There was a time, I seem to recall, when people understood that they spoke through their representatives – in politics, in churches, in unions. Today, the social media foster the delusion that every individual can speak directly to the highest levels of governments and corporations. Almost every day I’m invited to sign some kind of petition to abolish slavery, save orangutans, defeat Monsanto, or oppose pipelines.

            These petitions may do some good. But they also foster the delusion that people can leapfrog conventional processes and make changes right at the top.

            And that, I submit, is not democracy. It comes closer, I suggest, to bullying. The dictatorship of the disaffected.

A social parallel

            Perhaps a parallel to a smaller and more familiar organization would clarify roles.

            During the 1980s, Roy Oswald, of the Alban Institute, defined four classes of churches.

            The smallest, the Family Church, made decisions informally. Even if the church had a governing board or council, the real decisions got made in the parking lot, at the grocery store, or over a coffee somewhere. Everyone could offer input, whether or not they got their way.

            Oswald’s next level, the Pastoral Church, formalized the structure. Leadership came from one or two people – usually clergy but possibly lay, often paid but not always.

            Beyond that came the Program Church, which devolved responsibility to multiple committees. Those committees act more or less autonomously; sometimes their priorities conflict with other committees.

            Finally, there’s the Corporate Church. It has grown so big, so complex, that mere volunteers can no longer keep it operating. Staff run it. And the membership is happy to let them do it.

            But when things stop running smoothly, members get grumpy. They leave for greener pastures. Or, if they stay, they clean house and replace their representatives with new ones they can trust.

            It seems to me that American voters thought they were living in a “Family Church” context. Then they discovered they actually lived in a Corporate world. The lobbyists, bureaucrats, professional politicians, and political elite run everything. Their activities develop an irresistible momentum. They’re almost unstoppable.

            Until the next election. That’s the most fundamental characteristic of a democracy – a government can be voted out.

            Democracy is, at base, a system of governance. Mass protests, sit-ins, and petitions are ways of influencing governments. But they are not, and must not become, a way of governing.

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Copyright © 2016 by Jim Taylor. Non-profit use in congregations and study groups encouraged; links from other blogs welcomed; all other rights reserved.

                  To send comments, to subscribe, or to unsubscribe, write jimt@quixotic.ca

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YOUR TURN

Last week’s column, on an unsung hero of the war in southeast Asia, wasn’t very controversial. But you seemed to like it.

My cousin Michael Parmenter wrote, “Growing up in Toronto I was aware of Uncle Andy only as a very kind, reserved uncle who was a highly regarded doctor in Regina, and who visited us occasionally. I was vaguely aware that he had connections with Mountbatten in Burma and that this kept him separated from his family for long periods of time, but it was only when I got to know his daughter better in later years that I learned a bit more. Even then details were scarce and the tremendous contribution made by my uncle is only now starting to sink in. He is truly an unsung hero, and I am delighted that your readers are now aware of his extraordinary life.”

Chris Duxbury concurred: “An amazing story of someone who has certainly made a difference, in a good way.”

Barbara Beatty felt she needed some good news: “On the 11th, I stood for several minutes with 20 quilters, gazing at Loon Lake, Maple Ridge BC.  I am 72, and most of the others are much younger. The war to end all wars, seemed very remote. I was born during WWII, I don’t even remember the Korean war. I stood with tears close to the surface. ‘Give Peace a Chance’ arose as my prayer. But after last week that seems so impossible the words felt empty.”

 Isabel Gibson commented, “I know that those who lived and suffered through that war each had their own story, but I find it's easy to forget.  Thanks for reminding me.”

The story gave Tom Watson some hope: “In the midst of the darkness of chaos -- be it war or something else -- there are those who find within themselves the resources to bring a measure of light.”

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TECHNICAL STUFF

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    Unfortunately, the archived columns at http://edges.Canadahomepage.net have disappeared. The site was hijacked, and I haven’t been able to get it back I’m hoping to have a new website up fairly soon.

    I write a second column each Wednesday, called Soft Edges, which deals somewhat more gently with issues of life and faith. To sign up for Soft Edges, write to me directly, at the address above, or send a blank e-mail to softedges-subscribe@lists.quixotic.ca

PROMOTION STUFF…

•        •    Ralph Milton ’s latest project is called “Sing Hallelujah” -- the world’s first video hymnal. It consists of 100 popular hymns, both new and old, on five DVDs that can be played using a standard DVD player and TV screen, for use in congregations who lack skilled musicians to play piano or organ. More details at www.singhallelujah.ca

•               Ralph’s HymnSight webpage is still up, http://www.hymnsight.ca, with a vast gallery of photos you can use to enhance the appearance of the visual images you project for liturgical use (prayers, responses, hymn verses, etc.)

•        •    Wayne Irwin's “Churchweb Canada,” an inexpensive service for any congregation wanting to develop a web presence, with free consultation. <http://www.churchwebcanada.ca>

•        •    Isabel Gibson’s thoughtful and well-written blog, www.traditionaliconoclast.com

1.      •    Alva Wood’s satiric stories about incompetent bureaucrats and prejudiced attitudes in a small town -- not particularly religious, but fun; alvawood@gmail.com to get onto her mailing list.

2.      •    Tom Watson writes a weekly blog called “The View from Grandpa Tom’s Balcony” -- ruminations on various subjects, and feedback from Tom’s readers. Write him at tomwatso@gmail.com or twatson@sentex.net

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