Mediaboss Marketing

Communism is one of our top all-time lookups, and user comments suggest thats because it is often used in opaque ways. In some sources, communism is equated with socialism; in others, it is contrasted with democracy and capitalism. Part of this confusion stems from the fact that the word communism has been applied to varying political systems over time. When it was first used in English prose, communism referred to an economic and political theory that advocated the abolition of private property and the common sharing of all resources among a group of people, and it was often used interchangeably with the word socialism by 19th-century writers. The differences between communism and socialism are still debated, but generally English speakers used communism to refer to the political and economic ideologies that find their origin in Karl Marxs theory of revolutionary socialism, which advocates a proletariat overthrow of capitalist structures within a society, societal and communal ownership and governance of the means of production, and the eventual establishment of a classless society. The most well-known expression of Marxs theories is the 20th-century Bolshevism of the U.S.S.R., in which the state, through a single authoritarian party, controls a societys economy and social activities with the goal of realizing Marxs theories.

Communism is often contrasted with capitalism and democracy, though these can be false equivalencies depending on the usage. Capitalism refers to an economic theory in which a societys means of production are held by private individuals or organizations, not the government, and where prices, distribution of goods, and products are determined by a free market. It can be contrasted with the economic theories of communism, though the word communism is used of both political and economic theories. Democracy refers to a system of government in which supreme power is vested in the people and exercised through a system of direct or indirect representation which is decided through periodic free elections. Democracy is contrasted with communism primarily because the 20th-century communism of the U.S.S.R. was characterized by an authoritarian government, whereas the democracy of the 20th-century U.S. was characterized by a representative government.

Read more from the original source:
Democracy | Definition of Democracy by Merriam-Webster

We depend on the free press to shed light on deeds done in darkness, but diligent reporting will not in itself preserve the health of our democracy. If a democratic system is to endure, its citizens must hold their elected representatives accountable every day, not just on Election Day.

Obviously, citizens are powerless to affect their government if they dont know how it works. Yet studies routinely tell us that large numbers of voters do not know which elected officials are responsible for the issues they care about, and relatively few Americans understand the most basic process of how a bill becomes a law.

A recent headline proclaimed In major victory for Republicans, House passes Obamacare repeal. True, Republicans did publicly celebrate victory that day in the Rose Garden. Obamacare is dead, its essentially dead, President Trump said.

Unfortunately, I suspect that far too many of my fellow citizens read the headlines, watched the G.O.P. euphoria on television or online, and concluded that Obamacare was now dead. Even those who had no idea what was in the hastily written bill could easily assume thatwhatever it wasTrumpcare was now the law of the land.

Now were relying on journalists to provide us with information about exactly what is in the healthcare bill. Sorting out the facts of the matter is crucial, since Republicans say one thing and Democrats say another, but the facts are not enough. If our democracy is to survive and thrive, every American must understand that Obamacare is certainly not dead, and Trumpcare is not yet the law of the land. Americans must know how a bill becomes a law and how we can affect the outcome during the process. The alternative is apathy, even despair.

In regard to the healthcare bill, if ordinary citizens are to engage in the democratic process, we need to know the basics: The bill now moves to the Senate, where it needs a simple majority to pass. If the Senate does not vote on the bill in its current form, it may die, or the Senate can write its own bill and vote on it. If the Senate bill passes, the House must vote to either pass that bill as is, or go to a bipartisan conference committee to work out the differences. If the conference committee can reach an agreement, the compromise bill must be passed in both the House and Senate and signed by President Trump in order to become law. We can contact our Senators via the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Why not add a short article sidebar with that very basic information whenever you report on a significant bill passed by the House? What about a whole range of bite-size civics lessons connected to articles? Human beings learn best in context, with repetition, and when we have a vested interest in the topic. USA Today and other media can strengthen our democracy by baking some civics education into daily reporting.

Politically ignorant citizens care a lot about what government does to hurt or help them, but apathy creeps in when we feel powerless. Why care about politics when its a depressing waste of time? We may be ignorant, but were not stupid.

The press can dramatically change our civic culture by showing us how to demand the best from our leaders. You empower us when you publish guest opinion pieces and letters to the editor. You give us hope when you cover constituents who express their concerns, because then powerful politicians cant afford to ignore their constituents. You strengthen us when you tell the success stories of ordinary people who work together to hold their elected representatives accountable. You motivate us when you report on a first-time candidate who runs for office and succeeds against all odds.

Civic-minded journalism has the potential to give us hope so we can cure our democracy, which is currently in critical condition.

See more here:
Democracy Dies In DarknessDone In By Ignorance And Apathy - HuffPost

By J.R. Wu and Katy Wong | TAIPEI/HONG KONG

TAIPEI/HONG KONG Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hong Kong on Sunday for a candlelight vigil to mark the 28th anniversary of China's crackdown on pro-democracy protests in and around Beijing's Tianamen Square, while Taiwan urged China to make a transition to full democracy.

Nearly three decades after Beijing sent tanks and troops to quell the 1989 student-led protests, Chinese authorities ban any public commemoration of the event on the mainland and have yet to release an official death toll.

Estimates from human rights groups and witnesses range from several hundred to several thousand killed.

Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997, is the only place on Chinese soil where a large-scale commemoration takes place, symbolizing the financial hub's relative freedoms compared with the mainland.

This year's events are especially politically charged, coming just a month before an expected visit of President Xi Jinping to mark 20 years since Hong Kong was handed back to China.

"When Xi Jinping comes, hell know the people of Hong Kong have not forgotten," Lee Cheuk-yan, an organizer of the annual candlelight vigil, said.

On a somber night, many held aloft flickering flames, sang songs and listened to speeches calling on Beijing to fully atone for the crackdown.

Organizers of the vigil, held in Hong Kong's Victoria Park, said the event drew some 110,000 people, enough to fill more than six football pitches. Hong Kong police estimated the crowd at 18,000.

"The students who died (in 1989) still haven't got what they deserve. They fought for their future, in the same way we're fighting for our future," Yanny Chan, a 17-year-old high school student at the vigil, said.

Video clips were shown of the relatives of four men who were arrested last year and charged earlier this year for subversion by Chinese authorities for manufacturing and selling bottles of Chinese liquor, or "baijiu", with specially designed labels commemorating June 4.

In Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen marked the anniversary with an offer to help China to make the transition to democracy.

Tsai said that the biggest gap between Taiwan and China was democracy and freedom, needling Beijing at a time when relations between China and the self-ruled island are at a low point.

"For democracy: some are early, others are late, but we all get there in the end," Tsai said, writing in Chinese on her Facebook page and tweeting some of her comments in English on Twitter.

"Borrowing on Taiwan's experience, I believe that China can shorten the pain of democratic reform."

Beijing distrusts Tsai and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party because it traditionally advocates independence for Taiwan. Beijing says the island is part of China and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control.

On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China had long ago reached a conclusion about June 4.

"I hope you can pay more attention to the positive changes happening in all levels of Chinese society," she said without elaborating.

In Beijing, security was tight as usual at Tiananmen Square, with long lines at bag and identity checks. The square itself was peaceful, thronged with tourists taking photos.

One elderly resident of a nearby neighborhood, out for stroll at the edge of the square, said he remembered the events of 28 years ago clearly.

"The soldiers were just babies, 18, 19 years old. They didn't know what they were doing," he told Reuters, asking to be identified only by his family name, Sun.

While some search terms on China's popular Twitter-like microblog Weibo appeared to be blocked on Sunday, some users were able to post cryptic messages.

"Never forget," wrote one, above a picture of mahjong tiles with the numbers 6 and 4 on them, for the month and day of the anniversary.

(Reporting by J.R. Wu; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard and Philip Wen in BEIJING; Venus Wu and James Pomfret in HONG KONG; Editing by Tony Munroe, Kim Coghill and Jane Merriman)

SYDNEY Senior U.S officials said on Monday the United States, under President Donald Trump, was committed to the region, reassuring nervous global partners even as it received criticism for pulling out of major a climate pact.

SINGAPORE As many in Asia question the durability of the United States' long-standing security role in the region, one veteran military commander is reassuring old allies and newer friends that nothing has changed.

MARAWI CITY, Philippines Islamist militants holed up in a southern Philippines town stocked weapons and food in mosques, tunnels and basements to prepare for a long siege, officials said on Monday as the battle for control of Marawi City came to the end of its second week.

Here is the original post:
Thousands join Hong Kong vigil for Tiananmen Square anniversary - Reuters

New York Times

Trump's Incompetence Won't Save Our Democracy New York Times President Donald Trump at a rally in April. Credit Al Drago/The New York Times. Can an autocrat be ridiculous? Can a democracy be destroyed by someone who has only the barest idea of what the word democracy means? Can pure incompetence plunge ... and more »

Go here to see the original:
Trump's Incompetence Won't Save Our Democracy - New York Times

London attacks: Northern Ireland leaders react - Arlene Foster says 'democracy will not be thwarted or derailed by terrorism'

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Northern Ireland's political leaders have reacted to the London terror attack with DUP leader Arlene Foster saying "democracy will not be thwarted or derailed by terrorism".

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/london-attacks-northern-ireland-leaders-react-arlene-foster-says-democracy-will-not-be-thwarted-or-derailed-by-terrorism-35786530.html

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article35786373.ece/00883/AUTOCROP/h342/London-attack.jpg

Northern Ireland's political leaders have reacted to the London terror attack with DUP leader Arlene Foster saying "democracy will not be thwarted or derailed by terrorism".

Seven people have died in the terrorist incidents in London and three attackers have been shot dead by police, Scotland Yard said.

Police and emergency services were called to London Bridge shortly after 10pm on Saturday, amid reports that a white van had hit pedestrians.

Read more: London terror attacks: Seven killed in London Bridge and Borough Market incidents

The white van then continued to drive to Borough Market where three men then left the vehicle and began to stab people in pubs and restaurants.

The three attackers involved in the attacks, who were wearing hoax explosive vests, were shot and killed by police within eight minutes of the first call being made.

Parties in Northern Ireland have suspended political campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims.

The Alliance Party paused campaigning for 24 hours, while the Ulster Unionists suspended theirs "until further notice".

Sinn Fein cancelled all election activity for Sunday apart from local canvassing.

Full campaigning is expected to resume on Monday, when the first big debate between the region's party leaders is due to be screened by Northern Ireland television broadcaster UTV.

The debate was postponed in May following the Manchester attack, as a mark of respect.

The DUP's Arlene Foster is the only party leader not due to take part in the televised debate. The party will be represented by deputy leader Nigel Dodds.

Also taking part in the one-hour debate are Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill, SDLP's Colum Eastwood, UUP's Robin Swann and Alliance Party's Naomi Long.

Reacting to the attack DUP leader Arlene Foster said: "This morning we pray for those who have been bereaved, the injured and the people of London who have been challenged once again by evil.

"We praise our security services, the police and our emergency services for their swift response and bravery.

"Terrorism depends upon fear and is the enemy of democracy. The United Kingdom is one of the greatest democracies and our Parliament is a beacon of hope around the world. Our democracy will not be thwarted or derailed by terrorism.

"Northern Ireland stands with the people of London."

Sinn Fein leader at Stormont Michelle O'Neill condemned the attacks.

Ms O'Neill said: "The attacks at London Bridge and Borough Market were horrific and I condemn them.

"My thoughts are with the families and friends of all those who have lost loved ones and those who were injured, as well as with the emergency services who attended the scenes of this tragedy.

Sinn Fin has cancelled all election activity for today apart from local canvassing as a mark of respect to those killed and injured.

Alliance Leader Naomi Long has said we must remain strong following the attack.

Mrs Long said: My foremost thoughts and prayers go to the loved ones of those killed in London, as well as anyone else caught up in this horrific attack

My thanks also go to the emergency services, who proved once again they operate without fear or favour in dealing with the incident and its aftermath. As a mark of respect, Alliance is also suspending its General Election campaign for the next 24 hours.

It is difficult to comprehend the mind-set of those who would carry out this terror against people simply out enjoying their weekend. Despite last nights incident and the recent attack in Manchester, we must remain strong and continue to live our lives without fear or trepidation. By doing so, these terrorists can never win.

"London was my second home for five years it is hugely cosmopolitan, yet made up of many bustling, friendly neighbourhood communities. Despite this horror, I know it will not lose that uniquely London aspect to its character.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann said "no matter what the terrorists do, they will not win".

He said: "Once again the United Kingdom has come under attack from terrorists. Our immediate thoughts and prayers must be with the families of those who have been murdered and injured in this terrible terrorist atrocity. These were the wicked actions of terrorist thugs who cowardly targeted innocent people enjoying a night out.

It is a shocking manifestation of the hatred our enemies have for our way of life and the free and democratic society which we hold dear. No matter what the terrorists do, they will not win.

We must be thankful for the heroic actions of the men and women of the Metropolitan Police and Emergency Services who ran towards danger to deal with the aftermath and bring this situation to a rapid end, and also the members of the public who fought the terrorists off. But for their bravery this could have been a lot worse than it already is.

Northern Ireland will stand with the people of London. They have endured terrorism like this before but their spirit will not be broken. London and its people are resilient and will stay strong.

Mr Swann said the UUP will resume their campaign on Monday.

"Our democratic processes and systems are a threat to those who seek their objectives through death and havoc. Their ways have only served to embolden and strengthen our peoples resolve to defeat terrorism no matter where or how it manifests itself", he added.

Belfast Telegraph Digital

Continue reading here:
London attacks: Northern Ireland leaders react - Arlene Foster says 'democracy will not be thwarted or derailed by ... - Belfast Telegraph