Free To Speak, Except When....
No wonder we as a nation have become so angst-ridden. We pride ourselves on what we call our democracy, and yet we have such a tenuous hold on just what democracy is. The inescapable fact is that it's riddled with paradox. The majority of voters didn't want George W. Bush for president in 2000, so we got him for the next 8 years. Democracy is predicated on the electorate's making choices based on its knowledge of what our leaders are up to, and we have an administration that is cloaked in secrecy, such as lying to us about the true cost of the Iraq adventure. Yell "fire" in a crowded theatre and your rights to free speech won't help you, you'll probably get arrested, but sidle up to an usher and say, "I think the guy seated next to me may have a bomb in his back pack, and you can be sure they'll clear the place. Lest we forget, it was George H.W. Bush who, as vice president, at a state dinner in the Phillipines lauded the brutal dictator Ferdinando Marcos as "that great friend of democracy."
posted by John M Crowther @ 6:48 AM
8 Comments:
Well said John! (And great cartoon to boot!) But I still have faith that real democracy will escape from the fetters of this frightening administration. And when we release it our wonderful country will once again join honest partnership with the rest of the world...at least, that's my hope.
Can't he be impeached or something? Clinton was impeached for far less... what are they waiting for?
Ooooh, great question, Jean! Alas, the Democrats seem terrified to take him on about anything. It's all inexplicable and dispiriting.
I pray you're right, Mary.
I know I know... I'm way out of line (it's the aussie in me ;-))... but I'm puzzled. What are they so terrified of (unless they have skeletons of their own they don't want people to know about)
I am with Jeremy, Herbert looks like a stupid c................... Jean, you are right, they all have skeletons in their closets, no difference between the Dem. and the Rep. Power corrupts absolutely.
Lee... great to see you!
We're in the middle of election fever here. We go to the polls next week... but what I've noticed is that each side just keeps chanting the same propaganda over and over... (even though the accusations from both sides have been proved false and quashed over and over!)
It's annoying to hear the same mis-truths repeated ad infinitum... but I guess for those who only hear the headlines and never look deeper than that... this style of electioneering works. Bring on next week so we can get the whole thing over and done with.
I am backing Mary's faith that you guys finally get the best man or woman for the job... a real statesman/woman who befits the role of President of your great country. The world is depending on it. Fingers crossed.
And we thank you for the good wishes, Jean. Here the candidates of both sides keep repeating the mantra, "we need change." It sounds like they're doing their laundry or feeding a parking meter.
hahaha... politicians being politicians maybe that's all they'll end up doing anyway! (Oh that's right... they have maids for that don't they?) (((LOL)))
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