Slavery and Democracy

With the American national elections approaching in a few days, I thought it would be appropriate to examine some of the issues which arise from keeping slaves in a society whose politics don’t recognize slavery. As far as American law and voting rights are concerned, there are no slaves; and just about everyone in this country is legally entitled, and many would say obliged, to vote and otherwise be a politically responsible member of the citizenry. What does this mean to us, and to our slaves? There are several different options available to the slaveowner, depending on how he feels about both voting and slavery.

"My slave will be required to vote as she thinks best."

Those who take seriously the ideal of democracy and the principles this nation was founded on might very well require their slaves to vote their own minds. Unless such a man considers that to embrace slavery is to give up any claim on citizenship or responsibility to the nation which is her home, he’ll make damn sure that she gets to the polls and exercises her franchise, just like every other responsible citizen. To this man, attempting to dictate his slave’s vote would be a betrayal of the "one man one vote" concept the founding fathers built our democratic process on.

"My slave will be required to vote as I think best."

This is the view of the man who sees the democratic process and his part in it as simply a means to an end, a way for him to attempt to steer his government in the way that seems right to him. By using his power over another to double his vote, he ensures that his voice in the political process is just a little bit louder, and hopefully, more effective than it would have been otherwise. It’s not an especially patriotic stance to take, but inarguably a practical one.

"My slave will not be permitted to vote."

The Gorean ’hard line’ on slavery would have to be that when the collar goes on the neck and the kef on the thigh, the girl has forfeited any rights to be considered a citizen of any nation, regardless of what the nation itself happens to think. Whether or not he himself chooses to vote, his animals certainly won’t. Also, the slaves of a man who simply doesn’t believe in the democratic process, for whatever reason, will most likely be similarly forbidden to vote.

"My slave will be permitted to vote her mind, or not to vote at all, as she chooses."

Not everyone cares to decide everything for his slaves. A man who doesn’t feel strongly about it one way or another may leave it completely up to the slave to decide whether and how to vote, just as he may not want to decide what clothing she wears when he’s not around, or what she eats in a restaurant, so long as she knows that when he does happen to take an interest in any given matter, she’d better be accepting of his control.

Is any of these positions "more Gorean" than any other? I don’t think so. On Gor, of course, the idea of slaves voting would be nonsensical; however, when presented with the fact that slaves here hold citizenship and franchise as a fait accompli, I think that strong arguments could be made on all sides, and that the determining factor is much more likely to be the man’s feelings about democracy and citizenship than his attitudes about power, nature, and gender.

-Gabriel

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Living in a Western society: Slave viewpoint

The upcoming election has brought to mind some issues of slavery which kaylee has accepted mentally, but has not had the opportunity to fully realize in her everyday life as property. This election is particularly important in the United States, as not only is a new president being chosen, but possibly as many as four Supreme Court justices may retire during this term to be replaced in lifelong appointments by the president we elect. The significance of this could be enormous to any citizen, slave or not.

Rationally, she understands that she no longer has the right to choose whether to vote the way she would normally do if she were unowned. She understands that it is now solely up the owner’s discretion as to decide whether she can vote or not, and in what capacity. The decision of a Master allowing his slave to vote her mind is his personal preference, similar to allowing a slave to practice different religious beliefs from her owner. He may choose to have her engage only in his religious practices, or he may choose to permit her to express her own form of worship as well.

Some things are easier to accept when they are abstract concepts, and not realities. It is a struggle to actually put those concepts into practice: to accept that although we live in a Western society, she has given up various rights- the right to free speech, freedom of religious beliefs, freedom to vote. How much easier would it be to have never had those freedoms, than to surrender something she has always considered as inherent rights. How much easier it was to surrender when she had never even considered the idea that some of our fundamental beliefs might be different..

Ultimately, this is simple because she is owned. Its not her decision to make, but to obey whatever he chooses.

This girl spoke with Master about her fears: that while she attempted to please him and be obedient, her views might not be the same as his. Would she be expected to change her beliefs and opinions in order to please him, or merely her behavior?

She was reminded that while he may not be able to change what she thinks, he can exert control over how she expresses those thoughts. If he allows her to vote her own way, that is his choice, not undermining his authority since it is a privilege he allows her, but he can easily choose to control her vote if he wishes. She is after all, his property. It still may benefit her to know what is currently going on in the local and national governments, to provide more information to her owner if he wishes.

She is expected to comply with the behaviors he wishes, even if it goes against her political preferences, her views on religon, vegetarianism, abortion or other strongly held beliefs. That is what Master requires of her: absolute obedience. Somehow, it’s the things which she never imagined having to give up which are the hardest to surrender.

-kaylee{G}

Gabriel and kaylee write a monthly column about issues pertaining to the lifestyles of Goreans on Earth. Questions, comments, and suggestions or requests for topics can be addressed to Gabriel@gor-on-earth.com