H.L. Mencken once said of democracy, "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard."
Well, in 2000 and 2004, that was pretty much true. (And spare me the silliness about the Busheviks "stealing" those elections... if the apathetic majority had really cared who was President, the only way the Busheviks could have "stole" those elections would have been at gunpoint). But in 2006 something odd happened: The common people changed their mind.
The result from the Busheviks has been... telling. Right-wing zealots who only months before had been touting the virtues of democracy are now showing their true colors as anti-democracy royalists. They want democracy only when the people vote for them. When the people do NOT vote for them, the right-wing zealots say "governing is too important to leave to the people!" and want to impose a military dictatorship.
Personally, I believe that the common people deserve to get what they want good and hard. They want lower taxes? Fine. They get what they want good and hard, in the form of collapsing government services, corrupt officials, disintegrating schools, and crumbling national infrastructure. Sooner or later the common people usually come to their senses and want something else good and hard. The same, unfortunately, is not true of dictators. Generally dictators just continue on their path until they destroy their country. Or as Winston Churchill once put it, "Democracy is the worst of all forms of government except all the others that have been tried." As for the Bushevics and the 27-percenters who still support them, I have only one question: Why do you hate democracy?
-- Badtux the Democratic Penguin
What? You don't "believe in" e-theft? Jeez, Tux. I thought better of you.
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans just want to have all the power for themselves. And when they realize they can't have that, they piss and moan like the greedy, selfish, mean-spirited infants they are. Of course, if they bothered to potty-train themselves, they wouldn't be suffering from chronic diaper rash, but then they wouldn't have anything to carp about, either.
ReplyDeleteStill, that leaves us with the Dems. They mean well, and they do try to do the right thing, but let's face it, there's a good reason the jackass is their party's symbol. I would modify Mencken's description of democracy a little. Our politicians know what they want, and they act as if we deserve to get it good and hard.
Thus, I'll take the Dems over the Republicans any day. Mainly because I'd rather get raped by a jackass than an elephant...
I can't quite remember Mencken's quote but it goes that onr day the Mid-West will get it's wish and elect an idiot for President
ReplyDeletePlease stop with the republican bashing. The democrats are no better, both parties have sold us down the river and you keep thinking the Dem's will save the day, HA! There is only one party in this country and that is the incumbent party and its members will do anything to keep their personal gravy trains rolling. By keeping the populace fighting over who's better, the repugs or the demons, they can keep stealing and selling us out unfettered. Wake up and smell the tuna fish, you are being lied to by all politicians, throw them all out and start over!
ReplyDeleteWell, Henry, I'm not aware that any Democrat has ever proposed a military coup, and the last Democratic president, Free Willy, was often criticized for using the will of the people (i.e. polls) to guide his actions, rather than principle. I've heard no such accusations about Emperor Bush the Younger, who, presented with polls showing the populace wants us out of Iraq, shows the populace the middle finger.
ReplyDeleteRepublicans just don't like democracy. The fact you don't see that and continue with the Republican frame that Democrats are like that too is telling. No Democratic pundit has ever written in black and white on a newspaper op-ed page that a military coup would be a good thing for the nation. Follow the link and you'll find Republican pundits saying such. 'Nuff said. If we must choose the lesser of two evils, I know which of the two evils I'll be choosing.
- Badtux the libertarian Penguin