Democracy is not just a question of having a vote. It consists of strengthening each citizen's possibility and capacity to participate in the deliberations involved in life in society.
Interpretation
Democracy goes beyond voting; it requires active engagement and empowerment of citizens.
This quote emphasizes that democracy is not merely about the act of voting, but rather about fostering an environment where every citizen has the ability and opportunity to actively participate in societal discussions and decision-making processes. It highlights the importance of citizen engagement and empowerment in creating a truly democratic society.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about civic engagement at a local community event.
Nobody really thinks that Bush or McCain have a real answer for the challenges we face, so what they're going to try to do is make you scared of me. You know, he's not patriotic enough. He's got a funny name. You know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills, you know. He's risky.
Extremism can flourish only in an environment where basic governmental social responsibility for the welfare of the people is neglected. Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels religious extremism.
$100,000 donors buy access to Congress and the White House. We believe it's long past time to clean up Washington.
None of this is fair to you. And should it continue, it will make it more difficult to keep attracting the kind of driven, patriotic, idealist Americans to public service that our citizens deserved and that our system of self-government demands.
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.
The genius of impeachment lay in the fact that it could punish the man without punishing the office.
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