Democracy? Or is Anarchy a better word for it?

Democracy? Or is Anarchy a better word for it? Chapter six of Abroad in American introduces us to the 1835 and second volume 1840 ‘Democracy in America’ written by the intelligent and observant French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville. Among his many observations he said; ‘Americans are in a sense hardly civilized, which is only to be expected, since there is in America no aristocracy and for that matter, no class distinction of any sort…the whole society has melted into the middle class …feverish activity prevails the poor of today are the rich of tomorrow and ‘I never met a person too poor to cast a glance of hope and envy towards the pleasures of the rich, or whose imagination did not snatch in anticipation things which fate had obstinately refuse to him’ Thus the concept of class does not apply in America and neither for that matter does the concept of family….In America the authority of the father is reduced to almost nothing, there is less of rule and authority. Bonds of affection survive, to be sure since relations between father and sons become more intimate and gentle when the mores and laws become more democratic but the fact remains that individualism in America prevails over family ties. Flux and rampant individualism are the law of life in this country, where everyone moves feverishly up and down on the social scale and exercises in rapid succession, a bewildering variety of trades and professions. The American has no time to tie himself to anything. He grows accustomed only to change regarding it as the natural satae of man. He feels the need of it, more he loves it, for instability instead of meaning disaster for him, seems to birth only to miracles all about him. Nor is this surprising: In American social conditions depend upon wealth, and wealth is constantly created…. But he did see a dark side to the democratic freedom- ‘ignorance as much as equality will increase the concentration of power and the subjection of the individual’ despite ‘hatred of being ruled by one’s neighbor being the general and permanent sentiment in democracies’…. And he sees a conflict occurring between individualism in society and liberalism in politics…. Saying; the fundamental reason for this is that Americans are just as selfish as the next man and far more greedy but they are at the same time moved by genuine concern for the liberty of others and the well-being of their community. When individualism makes allowances for the rights of others, liberty may triumph…. And on religion said; I’ve never been so conscious of the influence of religion on the morals and the social and political state of the nation. Americans are genuinely pious especially in the then frontier states (of middle America) where people turn in relief from excessive materialism to religion…it is almost as if the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in the opposite direction in France but in America are intimately united. Religion forbids them to commit what is rash and unjust’ Edited excerpts chapter six ‘Abroad in America’ 1976 Smithsonian Institute. In spite of aristocratic beginnings and oft times hall mark features my own religious ‘Brethren’ movement established out of seeking to be true to what so ever is found by a deep understanding of the bible as primary source has created in our community many of the features which Alexis de Tocqueville saw in his discovery of Americans in the 1830s. A community which lacks clearly defined leadership but is under the oversight- ‘Episcope’ of elders and works most brilliantly when in a time of crisis, disaster, or social change when individual saints from the heart do for themselves and for their families and community whatsoever ‘The Lord’ has lead them to do and to be and become –More than Democracy- Pure Anarchy without centralized or hierarchical leadership as we serve one another in moral piety –Idealism? No actually that is how I operate in the work place! For the past five years on projects where there is never less than a hundred other workers I get no direction apart form ‘Keep doing what you are doing’ and attend to the things in vast and complex operations where I can do best and most efficiently so others do not need to attend to; They preferring to be doing other tasks… And as long as I can be successful in that approach-Productivity safety morale as well as profitability improving- well that is good and the reward deservedly belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ for giving me his spirit! A strange approach to life? Well two Brethrens have caught my attention. One who went onto become England’s Most evil satanic authority… So forget him! But the other the son of aristocracy fluent in the Arabic environment nephew of the Governor of Egypt young Orde Wingate combined the best of hard work and brilliance in his nonconformist approach to life and The Bible in teaching Jews how to defend their settlements in Palestine in the late 1930s. Is what Tocqueville is struggling to describe and hopes will work- Democracy? Well hardly! Rather as I suggest we need other words to describe a selfless serving approach which produces a solid but vibrant and healthy community. Marx suggested the word Communism but Americans struggle with that word.. So dear reader. The prognosis for America given her myths might be overall bad- But what are you doing which is real and lasting ?