Five Challenges to American Democracy
TELLER, EDWARD
A leading scientist pinpoints and analyzes five dangers the United States faces today FIVE CHALLENGES TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY By Edward Teller The Communist party of the United States is small. It...
...They do not even stop to inquire carefully how the question of secrets and weapons affect their fully justified and paramount desire for peace...
...We have sought our safety in secrecy which is offically designated "security...
...We might press for an international agreement outlawing measures which restrict freedom of information and which would make the world safer and establish entry of genuine democratic ideas into the Soviet empire...
...The average man may safely turn to his neighbor for counsel on political questions...
...These conditions need not continue to be fully valid...
...They have fostered an atmosphere where knowledge of Russia is suspect and acknowledgment of any Communist strength almost equal to treason...
...It is correct to say, of course, that the common man cannot hope to follow the complexities of political events in every country of the globe, but it is equally correct to maintain that in our shrinking world we are affected by the fate of every country...
...This is, in part, proper, but our reliance on specialists has become too great and there is a real danger that decisions will be made by a select few...
...Many citizens seem averse to giving thought to the distasteful problem of these weapons...
...At the same time, the future of our technical development depends on an intelligent appraisal of its foundations and its capabilities...
...There is a further and deeper aspect of this question...
...The world has become too complicated and we need specialists to make decisions for us...
...What is the present value of this security...
...it has leveled hurtful accusations at waverers...
...Secrecy can be used by those in power to hide their mistakes and it would be unrealistic to believe that this is never done...
...The specialist is invested with an aura of wisdom and impartiality which he actually possesses to no greater extent than his fellow beings...
...Science thereby has become less complex and more systematic and can more easily be mastered by a student who has the determination to do so...
...The average citizen is willing to leave the question of dangerous weapons to the specialist who is "cleared...
...Many specialists have accepted the responsibility thrust upon them with some reluctance...
...Detailed decision never has been appropriately made by complete discussion carried to the public...
...The dangers of the nuclear age require split-second decisions...
...They would rather abolish the weapons themselves then learn about them...
...But it is inherent in human nature that discussions should become heated and bitter...
...And thus they induce doubts in many who are discontented or who are looking for a better way of life...
...Yet there can be no question that secrecy is not consonant with the full functioning of the democratic process...
...Democratic safeguards and checks have been established, but it is doubtful that these can ever become as effective as full and free discussion...
...True, no layman can be familiar with all the intricacies of our modern technology...
...Communists often act in the name of a good cause rather than in the name of their party, but they have used each of these causes to make converts to their way of thinking, or at least to sow disunity among the democratic majority...
...To restrict the full functioning of the democratic process in order to buy this kind of "security" seems to indicate a diminished interest in democracy itself...
...Decision by the people is endangered...
...We can and should be convinced that our democracy will emerge stronger from such a discussion...
...It is generally believed that secrecy is necessary to limit the knowledge of the modern dangerous weapons...
...For this criticism to be constructive, it must be objective and free of rancor...
...They endeavor to show that problems cannot be solved in the context of our form of government...
...Obviously, Russia will be slow to yield its reliance on secrecy, but the pressure of world opinion is a factor in Russian policy too...
...What is worse, investigations of un-American activities have limited freedom of discussion...
...McCarthyism commits two basic mistakes: It strikes indiscriminately at real and imagined foes, and it limits freedom of discussion...
...But the speed of the new age has affected us in still another manner...
...it has driven many into the camp of the enemy...
...The example of the U.S...
...But it is dangerous if the last word on important issues is spoken by a group of specialists who are invested by popular belief with almost superhuman knowledge...
...It has not delayed any country with fissionable materials from detonating an atomic bomb...
...in fact, they do not aim at practical solutions, but try to use every imperfection in democracy to prove that democracy itself is not viable...
...It has done so with skill and with some success...
...Much must be taken on faith by the voter...
...It would be a mistake, however, to believe that it is insignificant...
...These decisions can be submitted to the voter only after the fact...
...The basic challenge to democracy is whether or not we can adapt ourselves to our new environment with an unprecedented speed...
...By introducing into the discussion an all-too-human element they attack democracy at one of its sensitive points...
...Witch hunting" has become the most effective target of anti-American propaganda, and has allowed Communists to masquerade under faked flags of freedom and democracy...
...For many years it has pursued the goal of weakening our Government, of aiding the Soviet Union and of discrediting democracy...
...The lifeblood of democracy is criticism and free discussion...
...This is unavoidable...
...has helped to strengthen this trend...
...He knows the character of his neighbor and can judge to what extent he should follow the advice he gets...
...Our answer must be full and free discussion...
...Today, unfortunately, all this is left to the expert...
...It has failed to prevent our worst enemies from acquiring every one of our major technical secrets...
...It is clear that the world will not continue to exist half-slave and half-free...
...At the same time secrecy inhibits communication between free nations and has erected a barrier which impedes the unity of the democratic countries...
...So far, we have done little to apply such pressures...
...Our best answer to Communist infiltration is not self-righteous investigation which presumes everything to be good only if it is American and everything to be evil if it is not...
...The investigation of "un-American activities" has impugned the good faith of many who are completely without blame...
...Public interest in our "secrets" is not great...
...These are the countermeasures employed by the House Un-American Activities Committee and known to the whole world today as McCarthyism...
...Few are familiar with the basic ideas on which our technical progress rests...
...Every Communist party member has found frequent occasions to undermine faith in the process of gradual improvement...
...One of the great challenges of the democratic way of life is to find methods by which our discussion can be kept moderate and helpful...
...It calls for a faster change in our mental patterns than has been practicable in the past...
...Though science and technology have developed many ideas not readily accessible to every citizen, a great feat of integration has also been accomplished in science...
...We have turned away from isolationism with impressive determination, but we are already challenged to go further and to consider political and economic problems abroad on an equal footing with our domestic issues...
...Secrecy and trust in the expert are twin dangers which tend to transform our democracy into a Platonic government by the fully informed philosophers...
...Mass communication media could be used to acquaint our people with the history, habits and daily vicissitudes of our partners on this globe...
...Our present policy of secrecy makes it difficult for us to present a completely convincing case against the Iron Curtain and the police measures of the Communist countries...
...The real fault lies with the common man who shrinks from the heavy responsibilities he must undertake if democracy is to function...
...We have, in fact, proceeded in the opposite direction...
...Communist party members participate in public discussions with the aim of exacerbating every conflict...
...Communist party activities have brought about countermeasures, some of which are ill-considered and aggravate the ill they want to cure...
...If all of it is to be free, we must be prepared for an exceptional and enduring effort which will require sacrifice, courage and an unusually imaginative application of the principles of democracy...
...In principle, the delegation of authority for urgent decisions is not new and is in full agreement with a well-considered democratic philosophy...
...Secrecy has been adopted by the majority of nations as an aid to some phases of their government...
Vol. 43 • September 1960 • No. 34
