WHAT democratic participation? By LUIS VICENTE
Socarraz Berty.
in Colombia has never been a fully democratic national government, in contrast to what has always been governments belonging to a plutocratic elite minority who speak of democracy and claim to defend, but in practice they have hit the majority.
Hence, with the exception of some democratic processes developed by governments or independent departmental of the plutocratic elite minority, most Colombians do not know the form and content of full democracy, so lack of practical experience to measure and above all to strive to improve the scope and content of real democracy. In fact, those not good for something, do not fight for that something. And usually settle for some small portion of something. So it is in our beloved country.
often said that in Colombia there has been democratic governments because there has been "democratic alternative", ie that is elected every four years as president of the republic to a different person. However, this "alternation democracy "has been a fallacy that has kept the reelection of" the same with the same "for 180 years of republican life. The same corrupt, the same unjust and violent change their name and address but have no essential differ. When candidates are inventing phrases or slogans that ultimately mean the same as the previous slogans or phrases. The clear mandate of López Michelsen, called by the people "the mandate expensive," he meant a lot of speculation and rising property of large landowners, over a four-year top-enrichment at the expense of those below. Change is now meant Pastrana more privatization, more enrichment of the rich. Uribe investor confidence means giving confidence to those who have and can be reversed, or the big economic tycoons. And meanwhile the people still hanging.
not have cared constitutional rules have always ruled at will implement programs in their favor, both with the old Constitution of 1886 or the new Constitution of 1991. Although the latter constitution proclaims Colombia as a social state of law, national governments have implemented a neoliberal programs that are contrary to the Constitution. In this, the ruling plutocrats have had no qualms about simply have cared what is increasingly strengthening their absolute power. There have been then no "democratic alternation", if they have always ruled the same plutocratic with the same policies.
Some defenders of the realm of the status quo claim that in Colombia there are democratic participation. To give as an example which elections every four years or the life and respect for some fundamental cut or guardianship action or class actions, collective actions and groups, and other skirmishes that our people off Day day. However, with the exception of voting, these governments need to renew, such events do not occur because national governments promote or even accept, however, these and other participatory mechanisms, rather they are rejected by our senior leaders and if they still exist in our Constitution and may be exercised by the people, is the strength of the Constitutional Court, whose jurisprudence has defended these matters and also protests. Desire not lacked these governments to dismantle.
But enough of the existence and exercise of these mechanisms for claiming that there is democratic participation? No sir, democratic participation does not reach there. Missing many other matters that are contained in an effective voice Village. Here are some:
political participation in major decisions of national interest: I believe that in Colombia there has never been this level of participation, because even the 1991 Constitution was submitted to popular referendum. Now he wants to consult the people on presidential reelection, but only because the government of the day has no alternative, because the last time in 2004, approved his re-election without consulting the people.
For the rest, why do not they consulted the coast on the decision to sell the power companies of the Coast, or the Colombians on the contract or Cerromatoso Cerrejón or mines Cesar coal?.
Participation in economy: democracy is an important and fundamental economic substance. From there it goes beyond political democracy advocates the establishment but never talk about these economic content.
The economic content of democracy can refer to several subjects including: The distribution of national wealth, ownership of goods and services, production of goods and services, distribution of goods and services, among others discussed below.
Participation in the distribution of national wealth: Refers to people's participation in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the country, which is currently very low. Furthermore these figures are kept hidden and reserved for the handling of certain wise men of the ruling elites who never make it known to the people. Certainly for the people does not realize how hard they give you.
participation in the ownership of goods and services: This occurs at two levels: a) The ownership of certain strategic goods and services: As the ownership of the land on drug and other industries of paramount importance for society ; on production infrastructure and delivery of public services and the like. All these should be by the State or community organizations in solidarity, but no, all or the vast majority are privatized and in the wrong hands, thereby preventing access and control of the town. b) Ownership of all goods and services, not strategic, mostly in the hands of elites. Participation
production of goods and services: The production of basic goods and services with some degree of processing is monopolized in the hands of the same plutocratic elite that has ruled the country. Participation
distribution of goods and services: As here there is no free education in any goods or services, all are objects of commercialization in the hands of a minority elite larger than ruling, but still a minority compared to the universe of society.
Participation in the consumption of goods and services: If most people have little access to property, access to consumption is lower still, because the use requires purchasing power which is well below the accepted medium rates. This results in phenomena such as malnutrition food to only talk about the food. So in Colombia has increased the poverty that is the absolute lack of consumption of goods and services.
Democracy also has some important social and cultural contents, such as: Participation
knowledge and science: The lack of purchasing power and limited government budget for public education official daily decreases the levels of access to such participation.
Participation in this field, we must look not only for access to knowledge but also for access to exercise and performance of acquired knowledge for productive purposes. That is, in terms of access to knowledge, all is not won diploma if you do not have access to productive work with that diploma. And on this issue, in Colombia has increased unemployment outrageously called enlightened or unemployed professionals. Participation
culture: In our area, predominantly a culture made by the ruling elite minority, owner of the goods and services, which is imposed on the dispossessed majority. For example: consumer culture. Participation
technology: Access to technology is directly proportional to the purchasing power. Although consumerism leads to the dispossessed majority is enslaved to purchase and consume what is best for the elites.
Participation of communication: many Colombians have real access to the media to say what they want and what suits them? Very few right?.
Conclusion: In Colombia because of the injustices established by minority elite that has ruled the country without pause, during its 180 years as a republic, the majority are destitute and without access to essential political content, and content of economic, social and cultural democracy.
Someday soon, the dispossessed majorities that now have no or little access to these democratic content, gain awareness, organization and unity enough to seize power from the elites and build a society that respects the justly majority and change the levels of democratic participation in our country. For that work.
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