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A Place Beyond Politics

Sedona AZ (June 27, 2013) – I believe in Democracy. Real Democracy. Authentic, transparent, accountable, clean Democracy. I believe most of us believe in and want that kind of Democracy. That kind of Democracy, and the longing for that kind of Democracy, lives in a “parallel universe” that runs alongside our current political universe. Hence the name, A Parallel Democracy.

A parallel democracy is a place beyond politics.

A Parallel DemocracyWhat we have witnessed, especially since the first election of the first black president of the United States, is bitter, divided, polarized, angry, mean-spirited, monetized, special interest, and “win at all costs” Democracy. Since I first came to the USA in 1965, I have never witnessed a time when the political discourse has been more rancorous and vitriolic. The labeling of the opposition with the language that is currently being used is, at times, frightening.

The impact of this kind of present day, two party, Democracy has been significant. Nearly one third of the voters in Arizona, for example, no longer identify as either a Republican or a Democrat. They are Independents. A very significant number of eligible voters have, for years, opted out entirely out of the system. They no longer participate, nor care to participate. And, those who are still active have become disheartened and disillusioned.

It is clear, without the need for scientific research, that our current two party system is, at best, severely dysfunctional; and, at worst, probably broken and irreparably so. The final blow to our body politic is this: our problems, big and small, continue to go “unaddressed.” Rather than taking them on directly, our governors are playing a game of making sure “the others” are made wrong; or at least less wrong than “we” are. It is a lose/lose game. To compound the dysfunction, and to hold on to their side of the game board, those who run our politics have also made sure that no viable third party option will emerge.

At the same time that the political landscape has worsened, and the tone grown increasingly divisive, something quite amazing is also occurring. For the first time in human history, human beings have access to instant information and near instant communication. The advent of the worldwide internet and its social media platforms have provided common people an opportunity to have a voice outside of the traditional “village square” (the congressional houses in Washington, and the state houses everywhere).

Americans have witnessed the near instant democratic uprisings which have occurred over the past several years in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and elsewhere. The ability, technologically, now to speak and to unite those who speak with one voice across vast regions has called into question the entire idea of whether representative democracy is even required or, dare I say it, relevant any more.

capitol-buildingWhat if, instead, we explored the possibility of direct democracy, where our technology is linked to and merged with our continuing deep commitment to real, authentic, responsible, accountable and transparent Democracy? What might be possible then? Well, APD believes that anything is possible politically.

A Parallel Democracy is an experiment in two central ideas: one, that human beings, who hold vastly different views, and who are members of different parties or organizations, or who have opted out of the discourse altogether, can come into a singular space and find a way to connect with each other in a meaningful and transformative way. They can do that without one person insisting that another person change his or her political views or philosophy. In that space, participants engage in the actual experience of political reconciliation, which will free them up to have different and more meaningful relationships with those that they perceive as “the other”. The experiment, if successful, can rebuild trust and can reclaim Democracy in a new, more powerful, and non-party affiliated way. This new way of relating to one another exits in what we call “A Place Beyond Politics.”

And, second, the idea that human beings, inside of our current technology, can begin to take full responsibility for governing themselves, directly, without the need for a projection of their votes or their power to members of political parties who wonder off to lands far away to cast votes. A Parallel Democracy says that the village square is right here, it is us, and it exists right in front of us. It too exists in A Place Beyond Politics. That place is not too far away- it is the distance between my fingers (and yours) and the next available touch pad or screen.

Finally, APD is not interested in having debates about political philosophies or particular issues. It has no opinion on these matters, albeit they are important. It is not a party or an entity. It is an experience.

APD understands that, like the nuclear atom, which requires all its elements, positive charges, negative charges and neutral ones, to hold itself together, our Democracy must find a way to hold the tension of all of its energies and disagreements. But, unlike the atom, where those particles don’t get to choose how they relate to each other, APD recognizes that each of us does have a choice in how we relate to each other. We can do it. In fact, we must; or, like the atom (and the entire cosmos for that matter) we will disintegrate into chaos.

We invite you to consider the possibilities that A Parallel Democracy – A Place Beyond Politics might offer you. Join us for the next experiment in the experience of political reconciliation. Become part of a solution and the emerging future of politics in our time.

For more information, and to receive a formal invitation to the next scheduled experience, contact georgedaranyi@gmail.com. It is free.

This SedonaEye.com article written and submitted by George Daranyi, Co-founder, A Parallel Democracy-A Place Beyond Politics, Tucson, Arizona. 

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

2 Comments

  1. Jeff Jones says:

    Thoughtful words sir and filled with hope. I, too, want our country to incorporate the good and throw off the bad and go forward with renewed energy. We have potential but I blame the education system and the politicians who undermined it in the past two decades. Our children are ignorant, uncouth and lack coping and reasoning skills. Of course there are exceptions but the exceptions used to be the majority.

    Thank you for an interesting piece that caused a great debate at our dinner table that lasted well past dessert and probably will resurface in days to come. I intend to share it with my middle school classroom. For you see, I know the education system firsthand and it is appallingly poor, parents and society in general need to assume the responsibility for allowing it. But we are a land of excuses…

  2. Kevin Ring says:

    Eye, I’d appreciate it if you’d print this. WRongdoing and wrongdoers need to be held accountable. It’s wrong to target any political party in this country. People should care because next time it could be them. That’s how the Nazis came to power. That’s how Soviet Union ruled. That’s how the mafia works. IRS specifically targeted tea party says House Democrats and Republicans investigation committee http://ow.ly/oOUHs (Facebook it please?) People have got to start caring.

    Kevin Ring

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