If an election is simply a one-day snapshot of transient mass delusions, then this is not a very noble form of government.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Elections are held to delude the populace into believing that they are participating in government.
But those who believe that what our people desire is big government are living in a state of delusion.
I'm convinced that unless you have some public financing of elections, you are never going to remove the power of wealthy interests over elected officials.
The mythology is that political change happens only in election years. The truth is you build from election to election.
Let's not give the electoral process so much importance. We have to be cynical about it. Let's give importance to the real democracy that's constructed on a day-to-day basis. That's my hopeful perspective on it.
It is certainly not unrealistic to think we could have elections by mid-year 2004 and when a sovereign government is installed - my job here will be done.
Democracy is not just an election, it is our daily life.
Democratic elections alone do not remedy the crisis of confidence in government. Moreover, there is no viable justification for a democratic system in which public participation is limited to voting.
Every democracy is constructed day-to-day. And the electoral process reduces and minimalizes every single aspect of human complexity. We're putting it into pamphlets. We're doing a publicity show. We're becoming symbols.
In a government such as ours we have vigorous contests to determine who should lead. The recent election was no exception. Now we inaugurate a new government on a day that transcends any one individual or any one party.