Creating a Transparent Democracy: A New Model

According to author Shamar Rinpoche, from his perspective as a simple Buddhist teacher, three things are necessary to enable humans to gain the maximum benefit from a democratic system of government: first, the smallest, most local democratic unit -- a village, for example -- must be granted the right and the duty to control the activities of the democratic unit above it, such as a county or state; second, the public must become politically literate before they can fully participate in self-rule; and third, all forms of political propaganda should be banned from public life. In the first section of this book, the author explores the principles and philosophy that underlie the ideal state, and in the second section, the author presents his suggestions regarding the structure and administration of the ideal state, a genuine democratic system of governance that promotes the welfare and prosperity of a country's citizens.