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Article: On renewing democracy and civic life: how grassroots, community action is laying the foundation for a renewed democracy.
- Article from:
- Natural Life
- Article date:
- May 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Life Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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It's ironic that as many countries are rejecting totalitarian regimes and trying to implement Western-style governments, democracy in North America is experiencing growing pains. Trust in government is steadily declining and ordinary citizens feel that they have been displaced by a professional political class of lobbyists, pollsters, media strategists and arrogant politicians.
Increasing numbers of people feel that their elected representatives are unable or unwilling to facilitate the kind of public conversation and community action that is required to solve the urgent problems of the day. It's tempting to reject the current political structure altogether, on ...