Baba
How to fix democracy
Namaskar,
In common dialogues around the globe, when people mention the term
'democracy', they are nearly always talking about political democracy.
However, according to the purview of Prout, political democracy alone is
not enough; economic democracy is also needed.
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In political democracy people suffer economically
The problem is that nowhere in the world is political democracy working.
That is to say, in no country is the condition of the common people
improving - rather things are getting worse. Because in every type of
political democracy, in exchange of getting the right to vote, the
people forfeit their economic might and right. That means, the common
people have no control over their purchasing capacity, jobs, local
industry, basic requirements, food costs, the price of fuel - nothing.
Their entire economic condition is ruled by someone else.
In liberal democracies like the US, the economy is run by leading
capitalists, i.e. corporate giants. And in socialist democracies like
China etc, the economy is run by the state. In both cases, the common
people forgo all economic power. They are mere pawns in the big game,
while those who hold onto the economic power benefit tremendously. For
example, despite the fact that the US economy has been on the rebound
since 2008, wages remain stagnant and the wealth disparity is growing.
There are more billionaires than ever before. The elite capitalists are
getting wealthier and wealthier, while the middle class continues to
shrink, and the majority of the population is thrust into poverty,
living hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck.
Similar is the case in every other country where democracy, i.e.
political democracy, is in vogue. The common people are virtually
penniless - toiling day and night to scrape by. Each and every second is
spent trying to earn enough money to pay their bills and put bread on
the table, lest they lose their hearth and home. So although, people
talk about the greatness of democracy, this type of democracy, i.e.
political democracy, is verily crippling the people if it is not
accompanied by economic democracy. They have the right to vote, but have
zero economic power. So they get exploited all day long by those few
with all the economic power. As long as only political democracy is in
vogue and economic democracy is not established, there will always be
poverty; and that poverty will spread as the top capitalists and state
officials hoard all the money.
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The Proutistic solution: Economic democracy
The Proutistic solution to today’s landscape is to substantiate
political democracy with economic democracy. As discussed above, in
political democracy, the economy is centralised. It is controlled by
large corporations, international banks, investment firms, governmental
agencies, or the ruling economic body in that land, whether that be in
the private sector or public sector. In contrast, in economic democracy,
the people in every locale are in full control of the economy.
Economic democracy is a decentralised system, where every block or
district has complete economic autonomy. So in an economic democracy,
the economy is not controlled by a few people, i.e. economic elites.
Instead, the common people have full control of the economy. They are
able to decide their own economic fate and prosper. They can decide
which industries to develop, where to locate the factories, how to use
natural resources, what the minimum wage will be, how much money an
individual may accumulate, the number of hours in a work week, and so
many other aspects of their economic structure.
Gone will be the days when big capitalist corporations come into an
area, take all the natural resources, manufacture those resources in
another place, and then sell those finished goods at astronomical prices
to people in the very place from where those resources came. Instead,
in an economic democracy, the people will be empowered in each and every
arena to make all their own economic policies and be able to withstand
outside exploiters.
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Key difference: economic decentralisation
There is a tremendous difference between (a) political democracy, where
the people only have the power to vote and are reduced to mere pawns in
the economic sphere, and (b) economic democracy, where people have the
power to vote but, most importantly, are fully in control of their
economic condition. Because when the economy is not centralised, then
every local area and region is empowered to set their economic agenda.
They will be financially set to deliver economic justice in their region
and encourage one and all to engage in higher pursuits, like sadhana.
Prout philosophy guides us, “People will have to opt for either
political democracy or economic democracy. That is, they will have to
choose a socio-economic system based on either a centralized economy or a
decentralized economy. Which one will they select? Political democracy
cannot fulfil the hopes and aspiration of people or provide the basis
for constructing a strong and healthy human society. The only way to
achieve this is to establish economic democracy.” (1)
So political democracy alone is not enough; economic democracy is also needed.
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Conclusion
As Proutists, we should have a clear understanding of the marked
distinction between the capitalist / communist style of political
democracy versus the Proutistic approach of economic democracy cum
political democracy. It is just a myth that the present-day system of
democracy - i.e. only political democracy - can bring justice to the
land. Only economic democracy can bring the soothing balm of peace and
economic empowerment to the people. For a full review of this topic of
economic democracy, refer to the discourse, 'Economic Democracy' in the
Prout in a Nutshell series part 21.
As the gap between rich and poor increases, we get closer and closer to
the implementation of an economic democracy. Because the people will
rise up and look for a practical solution. And we will show them Prout.
Prout philosophy states, "For the success of economic democracy, PROUT
must be implemented and the economic welfare of all people must be
enhanced step by step. This in turn will lead to greater opportunities
for the spiritual emancipation of human beings." (2)
Namaskar,
In Him,
Abhiik Deva
~ In-depth study ~
Around the globe, and certainly in our Prout community, everyone knows
the term 'democracy'. It is such a commonly used word - routinely
championed as “the system of choice” - in today's world theatre and
political climate. But what exactly is meant by 'democracy' and does the
prevailing conception of democracy truly serve the interests and needs
of the common people. How does the democracy advocated by Prout differ
from type of democracy prevalent today, and what concrete solutions does
it offer. That is what is addressed in this letter, according to the
guidelines and vision of Prout.
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Era of economic democracy is coming
In a phrase, in today's world, democracy refers to any state wherein the
officials are elected by some type of election. And verily, so many
countries around the globe follow this democratic system: Germany, US,
Argentina, Romania, China, Canada, etc. These are all democracies, of
one form or another, according to our Proutistic perspective. Shrii
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, the Propounder of Prout philosophy, terms all
these above systems as political democracies because the political
leaders are elected by a vote: A vote either by the people or a vote by
the party officials.
According to Prout, under the greater umbrella of political democracy,
there are two basic types: (a) liberal democracy and (b) socialist
democracy. In liberal democracies like the United States, India Great
Britain, and France, etc, the general populace exercises their voting
right to elect their leaders. And in social democracies, like the former
Soviet Union, China, and Vietnam, etc, the party officials vote to
elect their leader. No doubt, liberal democracies offer greater freedom
and civil liberties etc, yet both these systems fall within the category
of political democracy, as both are based on political and economic
centralisation.
Prout philosophy states, “In economic democracy, economic and political
power are bifurcated. That is, PROUT advocates political centralization
and economic decentralization. Political power is vested with the
moralists, but economic power is vested with the local people. The
principal goal of the administration is to remove all the impediments
and obstacles which prevent the economic needs of the people being met.
The universal aim of economic democracy is to guarantee the minimum
requirements of life to all members of society.” (3)
Requirements for Economic Democracy
Here below Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, the Propounder of Prout,
outlines the criteria for creating and establishing economic democracy.
Prout philosophy states, “The first requirement for economic democracy
is that the minimum requirements of a particular age – including food,
clothing, housing, education and medical treatment – must be guaranteed
to all. Not only is this an individual right, it is also a collective
necessity, because the easy availability of the minimum requirements
will increase the all-round welfare of society.”
“The second requirement for economic democracy is that increasing
purchasing capacity must be guaranteed to each and every individual. In
economic democracy local people will hold economic power. Consequently,
local raw materials will be used to promote the economic prosperity of
the local people. That is to say, the raw materials of one
socio-economic unit should not be exported to another unit. Instead,
industrial centres should be built up wherever raw materials are
available. This will create industries based on locally available raw
materials and ensure full employment for all local people.”
Prout philosophy states, “The third requirement for economic democracy
is that the power to make all economic decisions must be placed in the
hands of the local people. Economic liberation is the birthright of
every individual. To achieve it, economic power must be vested in the
local people. In economic democracy the local people will have the power
to make all economic decisions, to produce commodities on the basis of
collective necessity, and to distribute all agricultural and industrial
commodities.”
“The fourth requirement for economic democracy is that outsiders must be
strictly prevented from interfering in the local economy. The outflow
of local capital must be stopped by strictly preventing outsiders or a
floating population from participating in any type of economic activity
in the local area.”
Prout philosophy states, “For the success of economic democracy, PROUT
must be implemented and the economic welfare of all people must be
enhanced step by step. This in turn will lead to greater opportunities
for the spiritual emancipation of human beings.”
“Finally, it should be remembered that economic democracy is essential
not only for the economic liberation of human beings, but for the
universal well-being of all – including plants and animals. Economic
democracy will devise ways and means to effect the smooth progress of
society by recognizing the unique value of both humans and non-humans
alike.” (4)
Unique vision of Prout
People generally think that capitalism and communism are worlds apart
and on opposite ends of the spectrum. But according to Prout, both
capitalism and communism fall in the same category; they are
materialistic philosophies. Similarly, often people think that the US
government and the Chinese government are on opposite ends of the
political spectrum, yet according to Prout they both fall in the same
category: political democracy. The Proutistic view of the world is
unique, and it is only Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar’s Proutistic vision -
i.e. economic democracy cum political democracy - that can lead
humanity onto the golden road of tomorrow.
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Some reforms to democracy: Prout guideline
Prout philosophy states, “Now let us discuss some reforms to democracy.
Democracy cannot succeed in countries where people are illiterate,
immoral, or backward. Countries like England, the USA and France are
suitable for democracy, but even these countries need to introduce some
reforms. First, legislators in the states and at the centre should be
elected on the recommendations of the people at large. At the time of
electing representatives the people should pay heed to their education,
moral standard and sacrifice for the society etc. If the representatives
are elected keeping in view these factors, they will not be guided by
party interests but by collective interests. In their minds the
interests of the entire human race and society will dominate, and not
any class interests. They will be able to enact laws keeping in mind the
problems of all and sundry, thereby accelerating the speed of social
reconstruction. Their impartial service will bring happiness to all.”
(5)
If illiterate people are given voting rights
Prout philosophy guides us, “The voting rights should be vested in
educated persons who have political consciousness and awareness of
people’s problems. Age should not be a bar to voting right. If
illiterate people are given voting rights there is the possibility of
antisocial and incompetent representatives being elected. To provide a
fearless and independent ambience to the administration, the secretariat
should be kept free from pressures from the cabinet. The cabinet should
confine itself to legislation, the passage and passing of the budget,
the implementation of its plans and policies, defense etc. The power of
ministers should remain confined to the parliament and they should not
poke their nose into the workings of the secretariat. The chief
secretary should not be under the president or the prime minister but
should act independently as the executive head. All the secretaries
should work under the chief secretary. Free from cabinet pressures,
every department will serve the people well.” (6)
Chief justice treated inferior to the president or the prime minister
Prout philosophy states, “In the present system the judiciary functions
under a cabinet minister, and pressure from the minister may impair its
independent functioning. To remove this defect and to ensure impartial
justice, the judiciary should have the right to function independently.
In no case should the chief justice be treated as inferior to the
president or the prime minister. Only moralists and honest persons
should be installed on the hallowed seat of justice. If people fail to
keep this issue under their close scrutiny, injustice will take the
place of justice. [[Finally, for the proper utilization of the nation’s
revenue and to ensure that every paisa is spent on building up the
nation, it is extremely important that the audit branch as well be
independent. The auditor general should be independent of the president.
Only the independence of the auditor general can ensure that this
branch will be able to fearlessly check the accounts of every other
branch. Thus it should be a separate administrative branch of
government, and independent of the party holding a majority.]]” (7)
Four branches to function independently
Prout philosophy teaches us, “[[All the four branches mentioned above
should be given the scope to function independently. Thus there will be
four compartments. No compartment will function under another.]] But in
such a situation there is still the possibility of injustice and
exploitation. So to supervise or monitor the function of all these
compartments, the benevolent dictatorship of the board of Sadvipras is
required so that spirituality will reign supreme.” (8)
References
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 21, Economic Democracy
2. Prout in a Nutshell - 21
3. Prout in a Nutshell - 21, Economic Democracy
4. Prout in a Nutshell - 21, Economic Democracy
5. Prout in a Nutshell - 14, Compartmentalized Democracy
6. Prout in a Nutshell - 14, Compartmentalized Democracy
7. Prout in a Nutshell - 14, Compartmentalized Democracy
8. Prout in a Nutshell - 14, Compartmentalized Democracy
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stands on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
We are one family“Áj egiye calo sakal mánuś bhái, ámantrań sabáre jánái...” (Prabhat Samgiita #0968)
Purport:
O’ human beings, today let us march forward. Let us embark on our collective march towards our cherished neo-humanism. We invite one and all. O’ brothers and sisters, everyone come; no one is neglected; none should think they are left out. All are my kith and kin—nobody is alien. Everyone is invited on this grand occasion. We have to remain united and move together to form one human society.
O’ my sisters and brothers, due to infighting between different theories, dogmas, clans, countries, and the battle over what is “mine” and “yours” etc, all kinds of fissiparous tendencies have divided our human society into pieces. Our universal family is rolling in the dust. The demons have pulverized us by injecting narrow-minded, pseudo-ideologies and dogmatic religious teachings. Various myths and gospels have segregated one person from the next. They all preached the false message of superiority of their clan, religion, or group. And they have destroyed the unity of the entire cosmic society. We are to make one universal human family which is all-inclusive and based on neo-humanism. Our goal is Parama Purusa. We are all one—our Father is one—the Supreme Father. Ours is a paternal family relation. Now we should come together and march forward hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder and wipe away the tears of the suffering and bring them unto the balm of peace. We are to establish ek manav samaj—one human society.
O’ my dear brothers and sisters, the peace and tranquility of our human society was poisoned by myths, gospels, and dogmatic teachings. The flower pollen of peace and tranquility has become one with the dust. These anti-social elements do not want to see people living together in harmony. So they have inserted the seeds of division and poisoned the moonlight too. O’ fellow travelers of the path of life divine, come we can resolve all kinds of problems, whatever comes on the way. By the grace of Parama Purusa, victory is ours. So come, with a strong hand, row the boat, fighting against all obstacles. Let us move forward by His grace…
== Section 3: Important Teaching ==
Why dreams feel so real Ananda Marga philosophy states, "During sleep these thoughts, in the absence of contact with the hard realities of the external world, appear to be real. Thus people who are not at all affected in the waking state by propensities of fear, anger, etc., may be deeply affected by them during dreams; because, as I said earlier, in the waking state, people know that they are imagining; but during sleep, they do not realize that the play of their imagination is going on. So during that period their dream-thoughts become hard reality for them."
"During the time of waking, because there is much resistance from the external reality, there is not much speed of imagination; but during sleep, in the absence of this resistance, there is great acceleration. Within one second people can imagine a vast epic like the Mahábhárata. Sometimes during dreams the dreamers, propelled by such propensities as anger or greed, restlessly move their limbs about. If those moving limbs come in contact with any hard object, the imaginary dream is broken, the dreamer's sleep is disrupted and the dreamy fantasy woven in nets of imagination comes abruptly to an end." (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva's Teachings – 2 (continued) (Discourse 16)
== Section 4: Important Teaching ==
Some special natural remedies
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Aloe juice is a medicine. Dried aloe sap
is called musabbar in Arabic. A type of rasa'injana also used to be
prepared out of aloe sap, or musabbar, which was used as medicine -- it
was used to treat blood pressure and insanity due to gallbladder
disorder." (1)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "The retention-of-urine ailment that
results when the movement of the urine is obstructed is also called
kabandha. The water from soaked fenugreek, fresh date juice, palm juice,
and sha'nkha'lu [a conch-shaped esculent] are medicines for this
disease." (2)
References
1. Shabda Cayanika - 3, p.109
2. Shabda Cayanika - 3, p.109
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This email contains five sections:
1. PS #0968: We are one family
2. Posting: How to fix democracy
3. IT: Why dreams feel so real
4. IT: Some special natural remedies
5. Links
