Democracy v Liberty

Poem in triplets

Democracy v Liberty

 

 The fathers of democracy.

The ancient Greek philosophers

were dependent on slavery.

 

Which leaves me in a quandary.

How can it be democracy

 to have such inequality?

 

I think democracy should be

 a universal human right.

Though it is not quite obviously.

 

An ideal to aspire to.

Which one day might be possible.

The time has come now to review.

 

What we mean by democracy.

 If everybody has their say.

It might well lead to anarchy.

 

When we elect a government.

The will of the majority

 is what they’re meant to represent..

 

But it seems they rarely do.

This cannot be democracy.

the many are ruled by the few.

 

Who gain control quite legally

 because their wealth allows them to

 encouraged by our apathy.

 

The systems open to abuse

The people have the power to

 insist on change; which we don’t use.

 

We vote or not just as we choose.

 A facet of democracy.

I would be hesitant to lose.

 

It seems to me democracy

 is something which we can’t achieve

and still retain our liberty.

 

 There is no way that I can see

 which will be fair to everyone.

I must admit despondently.

 

A partial democracy

 is what we have and will retain

 a curb upon our liberty.

 

You have no reason to complain

if you choose not to use your vote.

You have the freedom to abstain.

 

Sunday, 16 May 2010

http:// blog.myspace.com/poeticpiers

Reviews

[Tate Morgan]

Oh I think on this all the time the corporations run the television and radio and rarely does a dissenting opinion matter from the wars we start to the food we eat

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree with you. If we do not vote. We allow the freedom of many who die so we can be free to decide. I like the beginning. Slavery was part of all great nations. A powerful poem. Thank you.
Coyote

[The Analog Kid]

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice! The poem poses some interesting questions. Can a government really have a rule by 51 percent majority or pure democracy? People voting themselves entitlements can only lead to a sitution like Greece is in now. Just my thoughts. Very well written poem.