Even democracy begins somewhere

Patrick Guntensperger, Business Consultant, Jakarta, ttpguntensperger@hotmail.com

In a great many ways we are fortunate to be living in Indonesia at this time in her history. While it is true that this column has railed against Indonesia's short-sighted visa policies, her inept civil service and most particularly, has taken a strong position regarding the outrageous corruption that exists throughout Indonesian government, this writer has the highest regard for Indonesia and has an incurably sunny and optimistic vision of the future that is available to this most congenial of countries. As Indonesia's national elections approach, one can't help but be suffused with hope and determination that this fledgling democracy will flourish in the twenty first century.

Indonesia is in a unique position right now. She has the opportunity to score where others have fumbled the ball and to avoid the mistakes that have sent other experiments in democratic government back to the showers. Those of us who love this country must grasp this opportunity and ensure that it isn't squandered.

Democracy is still in the experimental stage. It has been around for a long time, but nobody has perfected it yet. The ancient Greeks are often given credit for having brought it to its apotheosis, but that is a very idealistic view of history and a not very accurate one.

While it is true that Greece (Athens, really) was governed by its citizens, that franchise was very restricted. It excluded the poor, the majority of its population (slaves) and all women. Still, it was a commendable advancement over the other forms of government available in the ancient world, if the aim is to have the governed participate in the governing.

Democracy has to be a choice that the people make; it is not granted as a favor and, once established, it is not to be considered immutable. Ancient Rome, which had been a republic (developed to some extent on the Athenian model), chose to forego democracy, basically because it was too much effort.

As a result of their unrestrained hero worship of Julius Caesar, the Romans voluntarily handed over supreme authority to him and then to a series of autocratic emperors. Beginning with Octavius, who renamed himself Augustus, and was subsequently worshiped as a god by Roman citizens, the Empire was ruled (not governed) by a rapidly deteriorating succession of degenerate psychopaths including, in just the first century of the Empire, the brutal Tiberius and the clearly insane Nero and Caligula.

The concept of anything approaching true democracy developed gradually in the west over the next two thousand years. One seminal moment came in Medieval England when the despotic King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta, a document that effectively defined the limits of authority held by a British king and made Britain a constitutional parliamentary monarchy.

Things went along merrily in England until the Civil War. Cromwell ousted and beheaded the king and ran the country as Lord Protector until the British, missing the monarchy, replaced the commoner with a new king.

In the second half of the eighteenth century, a group of disgruntled colonists met, discussed, argued and collaborated. Among this group were some of the brightest minds of the century (and this was the Enlightenment, after all), well steeped in the liberal intellectual tradition.

Out of this think tank, a great experiment in democracy emerged. First, a revolutionary war was fought and then the thinking that started the whole thing was put into play. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America were remarkable documents.

At once cynical (the constitution is painstakingly crafted to avoid the possibility of tyranny sneaking back in) and idealistic ("...all men are created equal..."), it was a blueprint for a model democracy. It was intended to stand as a shining beacon; a set of principles built upon a foundation of rational, rigorous, liberal intellectualism that would stand as a just society that would be committed to truth, balance, liberty and equality for all eternity. Damn shame that its such an utter failure.

In fact, what has grown out of such hopeful beginnings can be described as an extremely wealthy Third World country. The United States has become an international military and economic bully; at home, the rich live in more obscene luxury than any Roman Emperor could have imagined while armies of homeless wander the streets trying to find food and a warm place to sleep.

The wealthiest nation the world has ever seen feels that health care for its citizens would be immoral and the concept of all men being created equal has degenerated into the reality that if you are black and convicted of murder you are about fifteen times more likely to be executed than if you are white.

In this failed experiment in democracy, the current President assumed office despite having lost the election. Had that occurred in any other country, it would not have been called "an election"; it would have been recognized for what it was...a coup d'etat.

Democracy is not a gift to be taken for granted; once it's up and running it must not be neglected. It requires the constant vigilance of a free press, the watchful eye of the intelligentsia, but most importantly, it needs the nurturing participation of the people. We here in Indonesia have an opportunity to succeed where others have failed...let's not miss this chance.