Voting to change the world – without triggering violence

Faults in democracy have been tolerated for centuries, but this year is different. The problems have become more serious – and a solution has emerged. The US presidential election and the UK referendum have decided very important issues by narrow margins, leaving half of the people in two great nations feeling pleased, and the other half feeling angry and resentful. The campaigns were loaded with insults, accusations and promises that…

The race to become President of the USA

The race to become President of the United States is intensely competitive and some candidates are making statements to get themselves in the news, with little thought beyond their desire to be elected.   Politicians in democracies often make promises that cannot be delivered. Last year the Syriza party in Greece promised to ease austerity, in line with the wishes of many people and governments around the world. For Greece…

Who has the power in a democracy?

Will the next President of the United States, or others at the top of the US political system, be under pressure and influence from  wealthy supporters? To win votes, the candidates and their parties will spend millions of dollars, and those who provide the money often expect something in return. Corporations may say that they create America’s wealth, so they are entitled to influence decisions, but is it acceptable to…