The expanding forum

Everybody has opinions, if they think or feel at all. They're part of being human. The problem is getting a hearing. The old Greek tradition of meeting in the market place to discuss things, was easier when the population was smaller. There were fewer people waiting for a turn. We have to have representative democracy rather than direct democracy because there are too many people to all have a turn at speaking, so we have to deputise, or delegate, someone to speak for us. The problem there is that the group chooses a spokesperson who does not necessarily represent everybody. So we have to find other ways of being heard. Talking to friends in a group can be an outlet but then the opinion only goes around that group. Letters pages in a newspaper help, but the more literate people wanting a place the harder it is to get a space there. So good on the internet! We might not get a big readership, but at least we're out there in a public forum having our say.