Take the U.S. as an example. We declared our independence in 1776, and wrote our consitution shortly thereafter, based on democratic principles. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are some of the most thoughtful documents ever crafted by the hands of man. And yet, with all that thought, and all that “expertise” of which you speak, it took us a lot of time to get it right, including a Civil War in which some 600,000 people died. And many would argue that the U.S. still has a long way to perfect itself.

I don’t think that this uprising, if you can call it that, is a waste to time or effort. The people have spoken as best they could under the circumstances. The world has heard their plight, although much of the world’s leadership, including President Obama, is taking a very cautious approach in issuing purlic support for the protesters. However, do you know who also has taken note? Non other than the Mullahs themselves. And it may be possible, in light of the hostility against them which they could not help but witness, they may modify some of their policies, and consider a slightly more moderate approach, lest they allow this festering anger to explode once again.

For example, I understand that there are serious negotiations under way to see if Iran would agree to a nuclear program that does not include weaponry, but only nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. It is possible, believe it or not, that the protests paved the way for such considerations. Although it could easily go the other way, by which the leadership comes to conclusion that oncly nuclear weapons will give them cover to quell internal dissent, and to spread their brand of foreign policy thoughout the region. We shall see.

But I agree with you that ordinary citizens need the experts. And I would also add that experts often need a vision, and a visionary, to help them focus their efforts in a more pragmatic way. Otherwise you may well end up with too many cooks in the kitchen, and nothing decent to eat.

The man on the street often knows best what is in his best interest better than anyone else.

The man on the street may know best what final outcome is in his best interest. But he is not neccesarily aware of the best ways, best policies, best approaches to make his dream come true. Here he needs to subscribe by expert bodies. The man on the street has to come to trust elites, i.e. economists, professional politicians, etc. And this is our problem in today Iran: ordinary citizens swear by their own ideas rather than following experts.

One further point; I certainly agree with you that freedom to vote for the men on the street is the only way to make optimum choices over time. People have to practice voting, and practice makes better. We need to support their votes. We need to make their voices heard. They are final decision-makers.

I see what you’re saying. The people are angry, but are not as yet emboldened by a vision that inspires them.

I am reminded of a sad chapter in American history. African Americans were certainly entitled to be angry about a legacy of slavery, and a series of racist events, including the passage of the infamous Jim Crow Laws. Yet, as you suggest, that pent up anger went nowhere fast until Martin Luther King came along. I’ll give you an example.

Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus, contrary to the law of that time which required blacks to sit in the back of the bus. Ordinarily a non-event. Dr. King, however, was no ordinary man. He was a man inspired by a big vision of hope, a vision of civil rights and equal justice under the law. He took Rosa Parks as a real example of his vision, and soon, the reality on the ground grew to fill up the space created by the vision. Such is the dynamic of change in the world, and such is the prescription for change in Iran, and for much of the rest of the world suffering under the yoke of repression.

I am not an expert on Iran, but I have a sense that people all over the world, especially in the age of a global economy and the internet, will respond similarly to a vision of hope. As you know, I believe in Selling a Vision of Hope, not just talking about it, or philosophizing about it, but actually selling it to the man on the street.

If you want to give substance and sustainability to Iranian anger, you would sell them on a Vision of Hope, a vision of Peace, Prosperity, and Freedom, and you would find a leader who could galvanize the anger on the street into a message that resonates in the hearts and minds of people across the land.

In a way, that’s what the Mullahs did in the revolution of 1979. They certainly don’t want that type of energy unleashed against them. The will of the people, however, will not be deterred. Once the people have a sense of what they want to accomplish, nothing can stand in their way.

The problem is exactly here: No one has a definition of Freedom. In Iran they know what really don’t want but don’t know what really they want.
As you mentioned the problem is to know what the freedom is, and before knowing, there’s no aim and all the struggles waste.