A Private Message That Should Be Public

Posted on 14 August 2010

I received this e-mail as a private message with many apologies (which seem extremely unnecessary even if English were the first language, which it is not.) The issue of democracy having been so corrupted. Or perhaps, as the writer suggests incapable of really functioning properly is food for thought — not to give up on it — but to try to sort out how to make it effective, or at least more effective in these dangerous times (has there ever been a time that wasn’t dangerous?)

“Dear Sir,

I apologize for invading your privacy by writing to you considering that we are not acquainted.
I came across your blog where you discuss the present political situation of the USA and I really enjoyed reading it, thank you!
What has caughed my eye is an article where you show your concern about the current political elite and you suggest that the “right people” should be in charge.
I liked your idea as in general because the problem concerns not only the USA. As for the USA I am not the right person to give an opinion on that subject considering that I am not so familiar with the issues and I am not even an American citizen (I am from Estonia, currently being on a maternity leave and therefore living in Brazil…not that it has any significance… simply to explain the backround).
I would like to discuss the idea in general if you don´t mind. I have been working in the Estonian Parliament for 5 years which includes assisting the elections 3 years ago(The USA and Estonia are certainly not comparable in any way, starting from the fact that we have parliamentary system etc). What I have noticed during these years is that nothing changes to be honest…even when replacing the people. I am not sure whether such thing as the “right people” exist at all.
The idea of the parliamentary system is that there should be parliament members from practically every possible social class and with every imaginable backround….or in other words, who get elected, are common people…people from the street. In my opinion it is great if we focus on the idea of equality and fair distribution, but…many of such people don´t have much idea of what they are supposed to do (they certainly enjoy the status that they have suddenly gained at the same time forgetting that as the next 4 years go by they might lose it and end up being nobody again).
I agree with you that there should be more specialists and experts involved in the political desition making process ( as I have said I am not talking about the USA because of my incompetency, but the idea in general).
From my point of view the lack of such specialists (at least in Estonia) is that they don´t even candidate on the elections. These “common people” who finally get elected are the type of people who have an enormous desire for power but they lack the ability and patience to get the desired status through work. It is much easier to enter a political party and become a marionette in return to the status and power. The idea of being “nobody” today but “somebody” tomorrow without much effort seems tempting to many ones among us.
That is how I personally see it and I might be wrong. I don´t know if you even had the patience to read my thoughts and whether you understood what I meant because I tend to express myself unclearly.
As I have said, I find your thoughts interesting and what I have written above, has a general meaning. I just wanted to discuss the topic, I hope it´s ok. I also apologize for the possible mistakes that I have made since English is not my mother tongue.”