Hello!
By way of introduction, my name is NJ Bordier. I've spent most of my life living in two countries on opposite sides of the Atlantic: Switzerland and the US.
They also have opposite systems of government, in my view as a Swiss and US citizen. Swiss voters largely control what laws are passed. US voters have scant control over what laws are passed, and often no control!
My Swiss and US university studies led me to view Switzerland's direct democracy as a "thesis". I view the US indirect democracy as an "antithesis". I've been working on a "synthesis" of the two ever since. Stay tuned as I weave it into my blog posts to the right!
"Conservative commentators: The world is on fire!"
Today's New York Times published a conservative opinion referring to protests occurring throughout Europe. The authors fear the upheavals and resurgence of extremist parties may be an omen of a "continent coming apart at the seams". Without minicing words, and with a worldwide magnifying glass, they claim we can all now agree the world is on fire.
The question I'm pondering is whether there may be encouraging signs lurking beneath these firestorms. For most protesters appear to be driven less by ideologies than by the practical difficulties they are facing with respect to paying for basic necessities.
By taking to the streets, within and across nation-state boundaries, they may be exploiting the closest and most immediate channels for expressing their frustrations, anger, and even rage. They are lighting firestorms to demand the attention and actions of decision-makers who have the power to make systemic change. Time will tell.
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