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Celeres -> RE: End of Democracy? (8/11/2008 10:26:30 PM)
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I don't necessarily agree with everything Naomi Wolf has said, although she would probably be quick to attack me as a "mindless Lemming" who will go blindly along with who is in power. Quite the opposite, in my opinion.
My view on what the President has done, is not one of attempting to end democracy and bring about a new regime. No offense to G. W. Bush (as I have a growing respect for the man, very different position from where I was 8 years ago when he first started). I, like many stout moderate democrats, knew that things would be bad. Regardless whoever won the presidency. However, I have great, great respect for his father who genuinely seems to have a real grip/handle on international affairs.
We live in the 21st century now. None of the founding fathers could have even imagined what the world would look like. Bush-43, in my honest opinion, is living in the old world. His father, Bush-41, knew how to rally global support and success in the Gulf (Desert Storm) in just a month with many nations of the world lending a helping hand. Bush-43 initiated Gulf War II (based on whatever information was available at the time) and is still there, 7 years later. The current situation has caused a bit of a stalemate... if we withdraw, that will have certain implications. If we stay, we over-reach financially and militarily.
So, going back to my original point, as much of this is a ramble, Democracy is not dead. On the contrary, Democracy is alive and well, and we are on the way to putting the first African-American behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. The thing that is changing is the spread of Capitalism.
For those who wish to challenge my last point, think of this: China, pretty much the symbol of communism, has dealings with 48 of the 53 countries on the African Continent (most Angola and Sudan). Recently, China gave $2 Billion to Angola. The only stipulations (unlike IMF/American stipulations to change their way of life) was to repay China with favorable oil contracts. And, 70-80% of all new construction in the country must be given to Chinese companies. So just think about that for a moment. China is receiving crude oil, and it has found jobs for its own citizens and its own companies... that's the definition of having your cake AND eating it. China spend 43 BILLION on the Olympic games so far.
Anyway, I'll end my rant with this thought: Red China is no longer a "3rd World Country" that people can turn a blind eye to. In retrospect, they probably have a bigger sphere of influence than the U.S. Having nearly 1/5th of the world's population, ask any Chinese citizen if they feel "oppressed." They'll probably tell you that they wouldn't leave China for anything else. That in itself being "choice."
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