Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Our Democratic (?) Government
From time to time we Americans like to boast about our form of government, our constitution, and about how we were pioneers and leaders in forming a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We like to believe that our government is the best and most democratic in the world. Our government respects and follows the will of the American People.
Lately it seems to me that our government is not as democratic or representative of the will of the people as we like to think. A case in point is our President's bellicose attitude toward Russia and Iran. Mr. Bush insists on setting up balistic missile detection facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic. The Russian government, not just Mr. Putin, feels that these facilities are intended to deter Russian missiles. The Russians feel irritated, to say the least, that the United States seems bent on resuming the Cold War.
The Administration says that the detection stations are intended to detect missiles launched from Iran, not from Russia. Well, I guess that's a good thing to say. I wonder why, if they are intended to detect missiles launched from Iran, they are not located near or next to Iran. Turkey, Israel, Qatar, Pakistan, and India come to mind as having territory much closer to Iran than Poland or the Czech Republic. Why not put them there?
I believe that the Administration wants to put the missile detection stations in Poland and Republika Czechy for the same reasons that another Republican Administration wanted to put them there twenty-five years ago. Our administration does not trust the Russians. Not only that, but it is following a policy that is certain to anger the Russians and probably start another arms race.
Is this policy in line with the thinking and the wishes of the American People? I don't believe it.
Is the continued attempt to pacify Iraq and impose on it a government subservient to the United States, no matter what the cost will be in lives and money in line with the thinking and wishes of the American People? I don't believe it.
These policies are just two examples of how far we are from having a representative and democratic government. It's time for a change.
Lately it seems to me that our government is not as democratic or representative of the will of the people as we like to think. A case in point is our President's bellicose attitude toward Russia and Iran. Mr. Bush insists on setting up balistic missile detection facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic. The Russian government, not just Mr. Putin, feels that these facilities are intended to deter Russian missiles. The Russians feel irritated, to say the least, that the United States seems bent on resuming the Cold War.
The Administration says that the detection stations are intended to detect missiles launched from Iran, not from Russia. Well, I guess that's a good thing to say. I wonder why, if they are intended to detect missiles launched from Iran, they are not located near or next to Iran. Turkey, Israel, Qatar, Pakistan, and India come to mind as having territory much closer to Iran than Poland or the Czech Republic. Why not put them there?
I believe that the Administration wants to put the missile detection stations in Poland and Republika Czechy for the same reasons that another Republican Administration wanted to put them there twenty-five years ago. Our administration does not trust the Russians. Not only that, but it is following a policy that is certain to anger the Russians and probably start another arms race.
Is this policy in line with the thinking and the wishes of the American People? I don't believe it.
Is the continued attempt to pacify Iraq and impose on it a government subservient to the United States, no matter what the cost will be in lives and money in line with the thinking and wishes of the American People? I don't believe it.
These policies are just two examples of how far we are from having a representative and democratic government. It's time for a change.
