I missed notice of a highway protest, apparently, and I can't tell what this one is about yet... but they're blasting the Colombian anthem, they have a police presence, and they're wearing shirts that at a distance look like Ghostbuster swag 🚫, so... it's anyone guess. I'll find out more after finishing today's newsletter.
Life in Colombia: Never dull!
Ah. Now I know.
It's a protest for eliminating a toll booth for commuting workers from the small towns that support the main city with daily labour. These are surging semi-rural populations hit hard by that toll to work.
This protest has closed the highway and cars are backed up, emergency sirens and trucks tooting. It is *very* hard to concentrate, so I'm just out for a quick pace before revising today's piece. 👍🏻✊
@MLClark Do you get that kind of...ahem...entertainment often?
Oh, there's usually a protest day at least once a year, plus the wild hullaballoo we get on the highways every saint's day for drivers / transport workers. Never a dull moment!
@MLClark That doesn't sound too bad, and it seems like a legitimate gripe, without knowing all he particulars.
Agreed! Life in a country with a lot more direct democracy has a lot to teach a body, too. :)
@MLClark Oh, I would imagine so! Is there something in particular that stands out to you?
For one, direct democracy requires a different everyday relationship with neighbours. Latin American countries have a form of collective participation, cacerolazo, that's literally beating on pots and pans at windows to support protesters on the streets (for big events).
But you can't have such things without social laxity! Greater bylaw enforcement also heightens self-consciousness around public displays. We police ourselves out of public expression--for better and for worse.
@MLClark Interesting. I remember reading about the beating of pots in Argentina 20 years ago or more, so I guess the tradition has been around for some time. And now that I search the term...Quite some time! I'm not sure I understand your point about social laxity and greater bylaw enforcement, though. Are you saying that folks are more likely to self-constrain to certain widely accepted behavior in public in a more directly democratic environment? Thanks for your attention!
The opposite! Western culture post-latchkey era has become one of increased neighbour-on-neighbour monitoring - and not for community uplift, but to report perceived infractions, which yields more self-policing too.
That's not a cultural model conducive to the kinds of public displays that help to grow fellow-feeling and support for a political cause.
But of course, relaxing social rules has downsides, too! Striking a balance for good communal *and* democratic living is tough.
@MLClark You're very gracious. I know you have a lot going on, so while I hoped for an answer, I certainly didn't have a timer on it!😆
Oh, I'm very thankful for every sincere conversation I get to have here. I felt like I was talking into a void on other sites, but CoSo is filled with people who have a wealth of personal experience and ongoing curiosity to bring to any encounter, and that yields quite a gift of ensuing dialogue. So thank you for asking!
What does everyday democratic practice and/or community action look like in your neck of the woods?
@MLClark Yes, the variety of folks here amazes me!
Here in San Diego, we see our share of demonstrations/marches. I've attended a few with my local union as well as attending local gov't meetings to support this or that. Truthfully, I'm not much of an activist (I'd prefer beating a pot on the balcony!) but I'm an avid voter and try to encourage others to do so. Our local union has elections for officers coming up, so I may do some light campaigning for my candidates of choice. 1/2
@MLClark Our union is the smallest democracy that I'm involved with. 1 member, 1 vote (about 1200 voting members). No political parties. There's a very personal vested interest in the management of the local for every member since it's our livelihood that's directly affected. Of course, not all see it that way and just can't be bothered. It's great to know the candidates personally and have worked side by side with many of them, unlike gov't offices where you have to try to figure them out. 2/2
A union is a wonderful form of direct democracy - especially because you learn so much about how human dynamics complicate action. You get to see how the sausage is made, in other words - and that's wonderful for cultivating deeper empathy and awareness of how change is effected on a pragmatic, everyday level.
I'm also not a marcher - in part, because it's inappropriate for a non-citizen to march here - but I enjoy gathering research to empower others where I can. Cheers, IW!
@MLClark Yes. The sausage making is frequently not pretty! But it is necessary. Cheers!
@MLClark Ahh! OK, that makes much more sense to me and explains why I was struggling. Lol!
Character limits are always the bane of full and clear online discourse, eh? :) If I'd had a few more characters to work with, I would have partitioned my first reply better.
@MLClark Hah! If we had a nickel for every time we needed just those few extra characters...
@Ironworker229
And not at all - I'm sorry I missed your initial reply last night!