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Where are the demotikoi now? [1]
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Date: 2025-01-26
Reading through one of Josiah Ober’s excellent reviews of Classical Athenian democracy, I came across a term used in one of Demosthenes’ speeches to the 6,000 or so citizens gathered in the People’s Assembly (the ekklesia kyrios). Demosthenes referred to himself as a demotikos — essentially a champion of democracy.
Now, from the little bit of Greek I’ve picked up through my readings, the plural would be demotikoi.
I’m wondering where our demotikoi are today? I certainly don’t see them among our leaders in the Democratic Party, who have either largely stood mute or even pledged themselves to cooperate, collaborate or otherwise work with Trump and the GOP. And no, I don’t count AOC or Jasmine Crockett or the other few luminaries as ‘leaders’ of the party; since they’re largely shunned or excluded from real power by the party’s leadership.
So where do I look? I’ll start with the Inspectors General who are ignoring Trump’s illegal attempt to remove them from their positions as watchdogs against corruption and unlawful behavior in Federal agencies and departments.
IMO, they’re about the closest thing to demotikoi that I’m seeing in government officials and political leaders at present.
I’m hoping their example is followed by increasing numbers of officials who ignore or thwart Trump’s effort to implement Project 2025.
With some actual leadership, who knows? Even the People may follow.
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