Revolution of urban rebels

Mark Thoma posts an extract about the Revolution of urban rebels in recognition of the US Independence Day.

The conclusion from Edward Glaesar is:

Across countries today, there is a robust correlation between urbanization and democracy. This correlation reflects many things, such as the tendency of more urban places to be richer and better educated, but it also surely reflects the role that cities play in supporting the coordinated action that creates and defends democracies. So enjoy your Fourth of July with as much greenery as you like, but also remember that city air made you free.

Emphasis Mine

The underlying assumption of the article is that rural communities are not democratic. In fact, throughout history, rural democracy has existed longer than urban democracy. The main reason for this is that rural communities tend to be collections of independent producers of roughly equivalent wealth (usually poverty).

In the original article, Athens is posited as the birthplace of democracy when, in fact, there are a major regression in democratic development. Some Athenians had become immensely rich off the debts of others. The agrarian democracy collapsed into three (3) classes: slaves (former debtors); freemen (debts could be extinguished); and aristocracy (debt holders).

The latter class afford to sit around all day and marvel at the wonderful democracy they had created while everyone else worked their guts out paying off their debts. And today people read this propaganda as the beginnings of democracy.

The American Revolution was one of the large land-holders (who were also slave owners) and the urban petty capitalists against an arbitrary government in London. The pretty words of the Declaration of Independence was issued to find enoughs mugs to die for the cause.

Urbanisation is more than just connections between people: it is about economic specialisation and dependence between people. What the urban population should be most keenly aware of is that they do not produce their own food. They are dependent on others for their sustenance.

Most of us cannot eat what we produce. Especially people like me who write computer programs. I need to exchange what I produce for money so that I can buy shelter, food, water, and other basic neccessities.

The urban connections spring directly from this need to sell what I produce and to buy what I need. I need other people in order to survive.

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