WEAPONS OF MASS LIBERATION
In this section, you can learn all about various tools for democratic participation and how to use them to fix problems in your society. The formula is quite simple: identify the problem, choose a set of tools, and start fixing the problem until it is gone. You have to do this persistently and not give up in the meantime. In addition, you should motivate others to do the same so you can work together thereby increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. Often, all it takes is to achieve a critical mass and remain persistent.
Politics, the public sector, and democracy are systems and organizations that need to be continuously repaired and maintained in order to secure optimal functionality (prosperity, well-being, and happiness). In democratic societies, the responsibility for repairing and maintenance has largely been delegated to certain individuals (politicians) and organizations (public sector) in order to allow citizens to focus on their personal lives. This is called representative democracy and there are examples of countries where this is functioning quite well. However when representative democracy fails and when citizens feel that their prosperity, well-being, and happiness have been compromised then this is a sign to ‘help’ politicians and the public sector to repair things by using appropriate tools for direct democracy. There are many instances when citizens have successfully utilized these tools individually and collectively and you can read about these cases in the IT CAN BE DONE section. Here you can learn more about tools themselves.
Be aware that the tools for democratic participation are very powerful. They deserve to be called weapons of mass liberation. However, these tools can easily become weapons in a literal sense and can turn the entire society upside down if abused. There is a thin line between protests, civil disobedience, and revolutions which ends up with tons of casualties and imprisonment of certain groups of citizens. This is why along with learning about the tools for democratic participation and applying them accordingly it is of great importance to be critical when identifying problems in the society and understanding their underlying cause. For that purpose, CIVIC EDUCATION should be a lifelong dedication of every citizen so make sure to devote enough time for your personal growth in that domain.
