Camp is away this week but since we’re a month away from a great show piece of democracy – an election by the people for the people – I elect to ponder what it is that we are fighting for. So here it goes. 

Ordinary people everywhere want what western democracies offer. Freedom of movement and association, freedom of the press and a judiciary based on principles and the common law, progressive education, equality and liberty. No refugees elect to flee to Russia or China, even though they have plenty of room but do not offer assistance and access to social services as we do nor do they tolerate freedoms like we are used to. Nobody wants to immigrate to China or Russia. Democracies share and assist, support and elevate. Autocracies like Russia and China, Venezuela, Iran and North Korea suppress and restrict, marginalize, reject and punish free thinkers, free speech and critics.

Democracy needs journalism based on fact and integrity not propogandists masquerading as reporters. The population needs to be informed and not lied to. The pod casters, writers and reporters need to tell the factual truth, report scientific findings and expose falsehoods, mis- and disinformation and support the common good and have a heart. Hate, fear and demonization are not part of a democracy but honesty, respect, tolerance, openness and respect are. If this sounds idealistic then that’s because it is. We need to believe in and foster altruism, communal thinking, universal access to healthcare and education and support the common welfare of all people. Only together will we succeed in building a better world for our children; alone we will fail and there will be nobody to clean up the mess.

The political and social divisions the world over are starting to look like a cartoon version of good vs evil. Good represented by the forward looking, positive, tolerant, inclusive and communal minded people while the other side is motivated by intolerance, revenge, retribution and hate, looking backwards to a revised, skewed past that never existed. Following populist leaders who promise simple solutions to intricate problems while denying the facts and refusing to examine and verify their unsubstantiated claims about conspiracies is often regarded as just another point of view. They want to be considered in equal measure against the other half of the population who embraces altruistic values, is kind and upholds scientific methods in order to understand and solve the complex issues of our times. Whose side are you on?

We cannot even agree to disagree but I cannot respect a world view that promotes restrictions on freedoms and rights we fought so hard for; be it equality for women, universal access to healthcare, tolerance of other cultures and beliefs. Those are modern and essential virtues and values that underly our democracies. Anything else is an autocracy, a dictatorship, an oligarchy or kleptocracy. We do not need more dictators, we need leaders who listen, understand and are willing to compromise. 

Maybe I’m wasting my time here. Debating with flat earthers is acknowledging their point of view which is completely ludicrous. It’s like arguing about the weather which some believe is manipulated on purpose to favour some people more than others. I try to respect other points of view but only if they are coherent and have a foundation in fact and truth. Which excludes any kind of religious explanation for the way the world functions. I can respect private beliefs and convictions as long as they’re kept private and do not transfer into the physical world. Which brings us to cultural differences which seem to underly most of the world’s disagreement, differences, conflicts and wars and most wars are brother and sister wars, basically family feuds. Ukraine vs their Russian cousins, North and South Koreans, Sudanese, Somalians, Ethiopians, Semites, even Americans vs Americans. 

Why can’t the world’s people not get along? Why are there borders and fences, barriers and divides? Are there too many of us? Maybe, but there were wars 5000 years ago. We have built civilisations and advanced technology to a point where we are all connected and can talk to each other across language and cultural barriers but in the end it’s the democracies who further science, technology and free exchange of ideas. Everybody else just steals, reverse-engineers and copies. Let’s hear it for the free world and let’s hope that common sense will prevail this November.