Democracy

Democracy seems to be difficult. Hand-wringing abounds after what some see as the failure of the Arab Spring. Yet nearly a quarter century after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, most of the former states USSR are struggling to make it work, while Russia has reverted to something George Orwell would recognize.

Perhaps it's a something-for-nothing mentality; we all want freedom and a say in how things are run but don't even want to spent the time paying attention, far less getting involved. It's a collective action thing. The effort to keep up is greater than the marginal reward from doing so. Yet failing to hold elected officials accountable opens the door for those for whom their efforts are more than amply rewarded to set the agenda and control the outcomes. Getting money out of politics is only have the battle. The citizenry has to get and remain involved.

It also requires compromise and willingness to work constructively for the  good of society as a whole, not just ones own interest groups. When 'the other side' wins an election, things won't go the way we want. But for democracy to work requires both that those who lost accept that they aren't' going to get what they wanted. The obstructionist approach take by House Republicans create dysfunctional government. The secularists recent coup in Egypt is worse. But equally it means the winner has a responsibility not to go for broke. Winners shouldn't expect to get everything they want either;  elected officials are responsible for every member of society, not just those who elected them.