It really comes down to a very simple question: should money translate cleanly into power for whoever has it?
In other words, should having a lot of money give whoever holds it the potential to control natural resources, the media, politics, education, and health care? Should there not be other ways of delegating power over the institutions that shape our lives and the planet?
If there's anything that was reinforced for me in Quebec, it's the fact that an increasing number of people have a problem with the trend towards the Commodification of Everything. More forcefully, I'm having trouble seeing how any kind of effective democracy can happen within capitalism. I can still imagine how capitalism can be just and not as violent as it is if it is governed by democracy.
Thirdly, I get the distinct impression that a lot of people think that democracy and elections are synonymous, and I disagree completely. 31 rich males in a room secretly discussing the future of the western hemisphere is not democracy. On the other hand, I am extremely encouraged to see what I believe are elements of actual democracy taking hold among protesters and activists. Affinity groups making decisions by consensus, Food Not Bombs providing free food to the visitors, thousands of hours of volunteer effort in organizing places for people to stay and spaces for teach-ins, training, meetings and discussions, the creation of alternate sources of information. All this is, in my understanding, a sign of democracy at work. And it's all done for the love of an idea, not money or anything other material gain.
What if these people were paid, even minimally, for their work? It's not hard to see how a alternative system is feasible, at the very least.
Last, I want it to be absolutely clear that the police did not "act with restraint". Unless indiscriminately filling an entire city with poison gas is restraint. But it's not, so they didn't.
Dear Dru, I have to say that I am very relieved to see your posting. (I was a little worried that you might have been arrested.) All of these protests relate directly to what was termed Jubilee 2000 (Jubilee is referenced in Leviticus and theoretically occurs every 50 years.) Several religious (and others, e.g. Green Party) groups in Port Townsend have been having meaningful presentations on forgiving debt, protecting the environment etc. (It all seems so frustrating at times especially when I read that w got a good rating for his first 100 days. I wish they would have asked me.) If anyone is interested in how the churches and synagogues of America stand on some of the issues try and find a copy of "A Cry for Justice", The Churches and Synagogues Speak, edited by Robert McAfee Brown and Sydney Thomson Brown, 1989, Paulist Press New York/Mahwah. Don't be fooled by the date just substitute w for Regan references - it is current. thank you for your reports.
Right on, Dru. Your thinking seems very clear on these issues. Looking forward to hearing more soon. I just got back from Portland and Seattle, -- noticing $ issues getting in the way of the humanity we share...it seems that the majority of certain sectors have forgotten decent human commonality. The disease of $-hunger has pervaded the cracks of many lives, creating a groundless, bizarre new "royalty". Amazing! Catch up soon.