Value of Democracy
From Internet: Knowledge and Community
Reading through chapter 4 and moreover the section on the value of democracy, it was difficult to flesh out a clear concept or statement that best defines what Graham believes to be the "value of democracy". However, I believe the following statement is a good illustration of his beliefs, "respect for the autonomy of the individual requires us to accord to individuals some share in shaping the political policies under which they are required to live". p75
Gordon Graham is searching for a way to analyze the "value of democracy" by identifying different approaches to accomplish the rule of power. At least two principles are explored. One states that the people subject to the law should make the law, working off a variant of Abraham Lincoln's famous saying, government of the people, by the people, for the people. Working with this approach leaves a large section of society without voice, namely the young, the mentally ill, as well as large populations that are just entering the age range needed to cast ballots. In addition, if we are to concern ourselves with the idea that people affected by the law should have voice in the law, then we need not overlook the impact on international communities affected by our economic laws. This brings Graham to his second principle, one where the people affected by public policies should "have the right to have some say in what they should be". This sounds a bit incomprehensible if for no other reason than our inability to quantify who is being affected by our law. If we lived as a people under one government, as people of the earth, (earthlings) instead of classification by geographic boundaries, then this would be possible. This last principle, albeit incomprehensible to employ seems applicable when looked at through the lens of internet communities. If we are to accord to individuals some voice in shaping political policies under which they are required to live, then how might laws imposed by one country be applied to internet communities existing in a world without geographic boundaries?
