The Paris Commune was first and foremost a democracy. The government was a body elected by universal suffrage.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Democracy is about institutions: it's about having things like schools and judiciary and the Ford Foundation, or 'The Nation' magazine - you need progressive institutions, you know what I mean? Those are important institutions to make sure that the government functions.
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
A pure democracy is a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person.
Democracy matters because it reflects an idea of equality and an idea of liberty. It reflects an idea of dignity, the dignity of the individual, the idea that each individual should have an equal vote, an equal say, in the formation of their government.
Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple, yet noble, idea that government derives its validity from the consent of the governed.
Democracy, pure democracy, has at least its foundation in a generous theory of human rights. It is founded on the natural equality of mankind. It is the cornerstone of the Christian religion. It is the first element of all lawful government upon earth.
Democracy is the form of government that gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.
Democracy is a daring concept - a hope that we'll be best governed if all of us participate in the act of government. It is meant to be a conversation, a place where the intelligence and local knowledge of the electorate sums together to arrive at actions that reflect the participation of the largest possible number of people.
Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organization cannot live a full-blooded life.
Look at the Paris Commune. That was the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.