The Sorrows Of Young Werther

I have of late been immersed in an overwhelming field of music, partly from my own recording practices (which have reaped a new CD which shall be self-released, and a forthcoming LP, which shall be my first "real" label release), and partly from the bountiful stream of new music, coming to me from my own MP3 foraging, my friend Jacob's astounding music collection, and the Tony Coulter archives on WFMU (highly reccomended).
These musical experiences have been so enriching and all-consuming, that lately only the smallest bit of my brainpower has been devoted to intellectual, physical, and visual interests.

Please allow me to gush forth admiration for the following musical releases:
The Wooden Cupboard - Boiling The Animal In The Sky (2005)
Various Artists - Naturalism (Nature Tape Limb compilation) (2004)
Picky Picnic - Picnic Land (1982)
These Trails - s/t (1973)
Charlemagne Palestine - Jamaica Heinekens In Bklyn (199?)
Kemialliset Ystavat - Alkuharka (2004)
Kraus - I Could Destroy You With A Single Thought (2004)
Lula Cortes e Ze Ramlho - Paebiru (1975)
CJA - Ironclad (2005)
Lard Free - III: Spirale Malax (1978)
The Electronic Hole - s/t (1970)
Freakzone - FRK ZN EP CD/Blockout (2003)
Ariel Pink - Worn Copy, House Arrest (2005, 200?)
My Cat Is An Alien - The Rest Is Silence (2003)
Val/Val + Brian - tape (2005)
Amon Duul II - Carnival In Babylon (1972)
Intersystems - Free Psychedelic Poster Inside (1968)
Aakon Keetreh - Journey Into the Depths (1997)
The Skaters - Palm Shaper (2004)

"That the life of Man is but a dream has been sensed by many a one, and I too am never free of the feeling. When I consider the restrictions that are placed on the active, inquiring energies of Man; when I see that all our efforts have no other result than to satisfy needs which in turn serve no purpose but to prolong our wretched existence, and then see that all our reassurance concerning the particular questions we probe is no more than a dreamy resignation, since all we are doing is to paint our prison walls with colorful figures and bright views - all of this, Wilhelm, leaves me silent. I withdraw into myself, and discover a world, albeit a notional world of dark desire rather than one of actuality and vital strength. And everything swims before my senses, and I go my way in the world wearing the smile of the dreamer.
All our learned teachers and educators are agreed that children do not know why they want what they want; but no one is willing to believe that adults too, like children, wander about this earth in a daze..."

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The most recent SPA philosophy discussion, consisting only of myself, Brandon, Emily, and Jimmy, attempted a discourse on democracy, with Brandon defending, and myself attacking. The Nietszchean critique of democracy - that, like Christianty, democracy breeds a mass mediocrity - was brought up, before the discussion dissolved. I would like to pose the question then to anyone reading this: does democracy breed mediocrity and inhibit the establishment of personal autonomy and general ubermenschian fulfillment?

My complaints with the big D, which lead to my agreeing with big N :
1) The system is set up to focus citizens' efforts on voting, which as an individudal action has an infinitely small chance of effecting any change, and therefore acts as a benign distraction from the creation of real personal change.
2) Brandon reminds me that the important aspect of a democratic society is not voting, but the "town-hall" discourse. I would argue that this simply directs social discourse towards the most mundane of topics rather than any sort of personally or intellectually enriching subjects.
3) The political-mindedness of the responsible democratic citizen, I think, can never result in any experience of the miraculous, the ecstatic, or the sublime, which are definitely the most important aspects of my daily existence.

There are more, but basically I think that the true path towards brighter futures lies in the reclamation of personal meaning and autonomy, which I believe will come about through a shift of focus towards private worlds. The realization of personal agency, the realization of limits of knowledge, and the realization (or, at least, some sort of crystallization) of the ultimate mystery of existence represent, to me, the most pregnant sources of social transformation.
If I were totally confident in my own ideas I would go on to say that no one should vote, no one should protest, and that most bureacratic decisions should be left to those most qualified to make those decisions. Good thing I'm not that confident, right???