This
is What Democracy [in Ohio] Looks Like (pdf)
- A directory of state-wide resources. (February 2007 Edition) by Greg
Coleridge. Also listed at OhioDemocracy.org.
From the local to the global, the ability of people
to govern themselves is under assault. Some of the major sources
of this attack are:
Business corporations looking to make huge profits
by converting what once had been “public” to “private”
(“privatization", though a more descriptive term would
be “corporatization”), including traditional public
assets like water and sewer systems and now even schools.
Individuals looking to increase their power, status,
and/or privileges by concentrating decision-making from many hands
(We the People) to few (their own).
A culture that reinforces notions that public policies
are too complicated for ordinary people to understand (thus leaving
policy making to experts), that distracts public attention away
from self-determination toward the trivial and inane, that define
certain arenas (economic in particular) as outside the scope of
public input, that continues to erase memory of any/all historical
examples of citizen control and definition of their lives, that
keeps people separated from coming together to learn from one another
and organize to (re)assert meaningful changes.
Continual legal and constitutional definitions that
further “enclose” and redefine “public”
arenas as other “Ps”: “private,” “property,”
“proprietary,” “privileged”—and thus
beyond the reach of public planning, public shaping, and public
evaluation.
A national government that under the guise of “terrorism”
has given itself permission to stifle dissent, intimidate dissenters
and interrupt effort of self-determination.
But there is another side to this – a democratic/self-determination
culture or “infrastructure.” In our communities and
across the state exist alternatives to corporations, corporate governance
and elite control.
Scores of documents, policies, institutions, structures
and groups reflecting inclusiveness are in place – examples
where those who are affected by decisions and policies have a legitimate
role in the shaping and making of those decisions… or could
if we made the effort. They are where We the People have a voice
… or could have a real voice if we merely flexed our self-determination
muscles.
Not all of these are “governmental,”
some are grassroots created and maintained alternative initiatives
bypassing corporate and/or top down government versions of the same
function. In the midst of dysfunctional, nonfunctional, undemocratic
and/or corrupt state or corporate structures, these alternative
grassroots initiatives represent “parallel” institutions
that currently coexist with state or corporate power but could over
time assume greater legitimacy, if not substitution, if they are
more effective in fulfilling the needs of people and communities.
All together, this is what democracy [in Ohio] looks like!
Some of these are unique to Ohio, most are not.
They are meant to inform and/or remind us what we may too often
take for granted – that documents, policies, institutions
structures and groups exist that are, once were, or for the very
first time can become democratic/self-determining. When we fail
to use them or be involved in them, they will wither and die. By
our not being aware of them, they surely will be manipulated, eliminated
or replaced by shells or shams controlled by corporations, top down
government or the power elite.
The examples listed below are in no way equally
“inclusive” or “democractic”—some,
in fact, might quite rightly be argued to be at the moment not very
inclusive or democratic at all. There are varying degrees of self-determination
here, some more so on paper than in practice, some more so depending
on the place, condition, and people involved. But all have democratic
“openings” or possibilities.
Where social change energies should be placed is
a separate strategic question. They also reflect a basic human reality
– institutions or structures, no matter how democratically
constructed or configured, never alone ensure democratic outcomes.
The commitment to and will of people in creating and nurturing authentic
self-determination may be most important of all – the force
needed to drive a wide and deep wedge into even the narrowest organizational
democratic crack.
This directory is not meant to be useful primarily
from a “consumer” perspective (i.e. in answering the
questions, "Where's the nearest food coop?" or “Is
there a public radio station in my town?”) but rather from
a democracy/self-determination perspective. That is, it seeks to
help readers value the democratic / self-determination openings
which still exist or could exist with investment of activist energies.
It also strives to reinforce the simultaneous need in working for
social change to create or nurture alternatives while working to
democratize existing laws, constitutions, policies, practices, and
organizations. Finally, the goal of this directory is to stimulate
awareness of and actions addressing the multiple threats to what
are deemed “public” and available for common use by
the constant and cancerous corporate and top-down governmental encroachment
in the name of “privatization” or “corporatizaton.”
Democracy/self-determination is not just aims but
processes, not just ends but also means. Listed are examples of
both – documents, policies, institutions, structures or groups
actually reflecting democratic/self-determining values and principles
and/or calling for them, even if the callers are not themselves
the perfect practitioners.
There is no presumption that this list is exhaustive.
Huge gaps exist beyond our limited awareness. It’s an ongoing
work in progress, meant and, in fact, expected to be amended by
readers. Please send additions, feedback, challenges and critiques
to AFSCole@aol.com.
Updates will occur regularly.
This is what democracy [in Ohio] looks like!
