What really is the DU community's attitude towards democracy?

[dfgrbac]

12. And I am sure your work was appreciated from those who benefitted from it.

If only everyone could be so involved.

But you are still talking about "politics as usual". This has been shown to not work on the grand scale (big national issues), and usually not on local issues either. What you describe has been the way citizens have always been told to take part in American politics. But those methods have failed us big time as indicated by where we are. And this is not government by the people.

For the "majority" of us to get the government we want and need takes majority rule. The only way for that to happen is to put the big issues on the ballot and let us vote them into law. Only then can the powerful elite be prevented from making laws against the best interests of the American people.

Initiatives local, state, and national will also require "...hours at meetings. It means facing opponents with respect - when they deserve it - and smashing them when you can." Indeed, that's what democracy takes! But with open public debates as defined in the National Initiative for Democracy, the results will be on the next ballot to be voted into law - not a petition to legislators who will then ignore the idea. Ballot initiatives, referendums, and recalls cannot be ignored once voted upon by everyone. Now that is democracy!