ABSTRACT
This chapter starts by reviewing some good features of democracy are reviewed. Next, the reality of authoritarian leaders is briefly reviewed. And it is posited that political parties, such as the Republican party of the United States, might be partially the cause of the rise of authoritarian
It was shown how local direct democracies proposed in this study could be used as a check to the power of political parties. They could write nonbinding resolutions and peaceably protest unjust situations.
The American Indians are given as a successful deliberative democratic society. And Jefferson’s ward system proposal for local direct democracies was briefly reviewed. It is pointed out that Dewey saw no conflict between the individual and the state. Because as people participate, they will develop their capacities.
It was posited the rise of the authoritarian leaders could be due, in part, to an incomplete Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. Because the primary theme of the Port Huron Statement was participatory democracy which was never integrated into the political system. Perhaps if it had been, people could have learned how to get along with each other and each other’s ideas. Local direct democracies are a form of participatory democracy.
