By now, Rachael, you’ve decided whether or not to eat that can of sweet corn for dinner and have moved on to dessert. My apologies for any indigestion bringing this up again may cause, but I am stuck on your questions: “…if things are relativistic rather than foundational, who is responsible? Where is the power? The authority?...Who/what the hell holds the power of persuasion? If everyone does, than how do we explain the development of authority?”
I am frustrated. I’m a citizen of this “great” democracy, but I feel more like a victim of greed and corporate capitalism. I try to tell myself that “for the people, by the people” means something and that my vote is my voice, and that my voice matters in shaping the present and the future. In this way, I hold power, I have some control. I tell myself this, but I don’t really believe it. I know there has to be more, but I don’t know how to get to that more.
The sophists recognized education as key to democracy, but not everyone was a recipient of this education. Not everyone held the power of persuasion. Pragmatic experience enhances deliberation. Education is still important, but experience plays a role in education, too. So if this is true, why do I still feel like a victim?
I have education. I have experience. But do I truly have power?
Deb said in her “a nitnoid for now…” blog, “The community is a space created in order for rhetorical actions to occur…maybe when interested individuals create a shared community of knowledge/episteme regarding the serious issues of the day, then the power structures that are in place may have to turn to the epistemic community as a repository of knowledge-driven ideas to actually enact or decide policy. Currently, we rely too much on our politicians.”
How big does this community have to be before the power structures seek it out?
For over a week now, protesters have been marching on Wall Street – Occupy Wall Street protest. It wasn’t until this weekend that the mainstream media picked up the story after there were instances of police violence. The police, of course, say their actions were justified, but there seems to be some video proof to the contrary. Is this the formation of a community, and will it be dismantled before it has time to truly form? If the mainstream media is not covering such groups, do these groups really exist for the rest of us? Maybe we don’t just rely too much on our politicians, but on our media, too.
This brings me back to one of Rachael’s questions: “Where is the power?”
Right now, a can of sweet corn would be comforting, even if it isn’t considered an acceptable dinner, or late night snack. Deciding to eat it regardless might just make me feel powerful – at least for as long as it takes me to eat it. Then, I’ll just feel guilty – and victimized by my own choices.
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