Democracy

Two contests on the first Tuesday in November attracted a lot of media attention.

While the Melbourne Cup results surprised a few, the outcome of the big race in the northern hemisphere — the US presidential elections — was never in doubt.

However, despite the massive amounts spent on the campaigns for control of the White House (around US$800 million for the presidential election and a similar figure for the congressional contest), less than half of those eligible bothered to take part in this "democratic" process.

Whether it was a conscious abstention or the apathy that results from an overwhelming sense of disempowerment, a sizeable proportion of ordinary people in the US obviously did not feel that their vote would make a difference.

Capitalist parliamentary democracy offers no choices for the majority of people. However they vote, they won't have any real say in the way their society is organised. Most decisions affecting the economy, the environment and the general standard of living will still be brokered in company boardrooms before being rubber-stamped by parliament. Voters' disillusionment with capitalist "democracy" is completely justified.

Green Left Weekly seeks to expose the self-interested deals, lies and distortions of those in the boardrooms, and their agents in parliament. Green Left also aims to give information and inspiration to those who realise that real change will be brought about only by the active involvement of many people in radical movements for change.

Green Left Weekly plays an important role in bringing together activists from all campaigns and movements in this country that challenge the rule of the boardroom. And you can play a part. Your donation to the GLW fund appeal will help keep you and others informed and inspired by helping to keep the other side of every story — the side that the establishment media barons don't want us to know — coming out each week.

See page 23 for details of how you can strengthen the movement for real democracy and change. Green Left Weekly — it's your paper.

From GLW issue 254