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Karma and Democracy

8/8/2017

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Cornell West, in his book, Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism, writes, “Athenian democracy was created by the revolt of organized peasants against the abusive power of oligarchic rulers. These peasants refused to be passive victims in the face of plutocratic policies that redistribute wealth upward--from the vast majority to the privileged few.” 
Sound familiar?
 

He continues: “From the time of that first Athenian democratic experiment in the fifth century BC to the birth of the American democratic experiment in the eighteenth century, the consolidation of elite power was the primary object of democratic revolt.”
 

Less than a century after America’s Revolutionary War, the Chinese battled their own revolutionary/religious war—the Taiping Rebellion. Their struggle for independence was no match against the advanced weaponry of the West.  The corrupt Qing empire remained in power. Simultaneously (strategically too?), a Christianized form of government died then too.
 
So, what was karma to do?

Putting the crux In Judeo-Christian terms  (Psalms 99:4 and 37:28), God loves justice and men of justice too, but if not God's, then man's reprisals might ensue (the Boxer Rebellion of 1908 is one example). Karma may have laid a hand somewhere, but by acting independently and following its own timetable, what karmic residue still exists--is speculation. 

Returning to earlier challenges for clues, “The economic power of the oligarchs was recognized to be the primary source of corruptions . . . bending the system to serve the interests of the few.” 

Clearly, a problematic condition way back then is today's dilemma too.
Economic power (the obstacle to be removed) creates injustices and revolts. Work the problem—before it’s too late.


Q: Redistribute wealth?
 
That’s already happened—upward. Now we’re faced with threats against our entire democratic way of life—just like the ancient Athenians.
 
The elite aren’t going to voluntarily hand over anything. Stubborn as a NOKO Kim, who on earth thinks they'll even try to “get" what's going on?  The whole world might share the brunt of karma.
 
Maybe. Anything’s possible. The hope I have for any change comes attached to their sense of pride, their pluck. Featured as magnanimous by contributing to a collective pot, their onstage strut could compensate for money never felt or seen. The media wouldn't mind. They'd showcase the most outstanding of society's “philanthropists”—those who surpassed all others in their "giving." Having a platform, a spot on center stage for helping save all hiumanity—the entire earth—just think of the prestige!

They’d be worshiped as gods.
 
Yeah. Somebody should let them know these things. 



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  • HOME
  • Preview Upcoming Book
    • When You're Smiling
    • Chapter 2 (excerpt)
  • SCENES from Stirring Li Chao
    • CHAPTER Samplings
    • 1863 Map of Li Chao's journey
    • Teacher/Student
  • ABOUT PAHA SAPA PRESS
  • Blog-like, Image-Editorials
    • Karma
    • waiting for substance
  • Amazon Page
  • Contact
  • PROVERBS
  • When You're Smiling: a story with a messed up ending because of government's finger in COVID19 and kneeing on necks