Should The Majority Really Rule?

Should the majority rule? This debate has been lingering ever since the idea of the Internet Referendum Project (IRP) came into existence between the different members of Mind The Brain, and anyone we bring it up to. I have conflicting views.

My initial answer is no. This is my pessimistic realist half speaking. An individual can be intelligent, but the masses can be ignorant. This is evident in history in so cases such as religion, cults, and WWII, where mob-mentality takes over rationale and violence occurs. Inciters simply take advantage of the time and place to manipulate the masses.  I believe the masses can be dangerous. If everyone is doing wrong together, people lose their sense of responsibility and identity.

Personally, I believe one person or a relatively small group of people should be responsible for making the decisions, so that we can ensure they will have all the resources to make the informed decisions. It is also their civil duty, their public oath, and we simply have to trust they will do it. In theory, this is a valid solution barring no outside influence such as: money, personal bias, lobbyists (get rid of them!), or career politics. Representing the public for no personal gain is a noble post that has unfortunately been hijacked. Therefore, this solution is no longer practical.

My optimistic idealist half says the IRP is a great solution. This tool will truly enable the masses to take control back. This half truly believes this effort can lead to more good than harm. People can in fact do the right thing at the top of the hour. People fight for justice when they know they have a choice. People need to know that knowledge is truly power (too cheesy for you? Sue me!). I hope, I pray to whatever it is, that people don't take for granted the lessons from history. People always pull together in time for need. We are definitely in a time of need, and the time of need should be always, because the truth is we all need each other. Just like Good needs Evil, we need each other even to disagree. We just have to disagree about an educated decision.

Regardless of my personal beliefs, I am the techinical lead on the IRP and will continue to move forward with it. I only hope history will look back favorably on us, and on this effort.

With Love,

Dirka

There is a secret being whispered. Who's side are you on?

You hear talk of it between two commoners over cigarettes in a rainy alley. You hear it in the hushed words between sips of whiskey and beer under the loud sounds in the bars and taverns of America. You hear screams for it around the riots expressing opinions of the rights and wrongs of our ways. It echoes between the young and old recalling the memories of America. You listen to a Dylan follower singing about it on the stage, through the speakers, on the mic in the city. And now, the electricity buzzes with it, the information high way carries its mention, hinting towards it.

It's coming. There is no question about it. The only question remaining to be answered is, who will lead it? Who will stand? What leader will know when to lead and when to follow?


Revolution. This is the word I hear. This is what is necessary. A peaceful, non-violent, social and cultural change is necessary to alter the direction of America before it crashes into the brick wall it's building for itself. The ideas founding this country are great. Freedom is beautiful when it is respected. Freedom is a fiery hell when it is hijacked for a profiteering cause.

Don't close off. Don't build walls. Don't claim patriotism. Act on it. Believe in your ideals. Believe that the system can correct itself. Believe people can and will do the right thing. Believe hate will lead us no where, and fear will drown us effortlessly.

Change starts with us. We are the people, great in numbers. We are the people and shouldn't fear being greater than our ancestors. We are the people; let's do more! Let's start a revolution to return to the ideals this country was founded on. Freedom is not sitting with the old mentalities currently running the country. Freedom is not in war, and it most certainly is not in the minds of the backwards uneducated mindless drones screaming patriotism at the top of their lungs.

Freedom starts with revolution. Who's side will you be on?

The Umbrella Solution to Extremism

This may be simple, or some may laugh it off as too general. Through the infinite wisdom of history that many seem to ignore, I have come to a conclusion (as have many others) I believe is undeniably obvious.

The solution to extremism isn't a band aid, and it's not a quick fix. It will not have instant gratification to those who want to see the world change overnight. This solution takes time and evolution.

Observe the general (yes...general) extremist populace from any country and/or religion. They are generally low income class, or horribly misinformed and undereducated. To clarify, undereducated means someone neglected to teach these people the theory of evolution or something aside from separatist religious propaganda. If that is not the case, these people have gone through some mental trauma watching their parents and families humiliated. It just turns them angry.

The solution my pretties lies in two words. Economy and Education.

Build the Economy! Give the fathers and mothers a place to work. Give them a purpose. It will give their life reason to go make money to feed their children. If there is no work, some gun-toting war monger will recruit them promising them money and safety for their families.

Build the Education! Give the kids a soccer ball instead of a stone. Give them a class room to study in; kids want to study. Give them a teacher as a role model. Don't give them a futureless desert.

Give them hope and the right choices will be made. Elimination is not an answer. Give the middle fingers to the devils that propagate the need to put others down, and instead boost those who aim to illuminate the world with knowledge.

Give!

Question...?!

Shouldn't you ask about my use of punctuation in the title?
Shouldn't you ask for the reason I choose these words?

Shouldn't we question like the curious children we once where?
Shouldn't we question the choices & the consequences we inherit?

You should. We should.

We should ask more.
We should ask for more.
We should give the middle finger to the answer we reject,
and stand up from the deviously comfortable couches they build
for us, the  consumer.
Be the producer! Be a factory of questions challenging
all and everything.

Ask the questions! Demand the answers!