And I hope the results of the election are "Bush Free"!
People are totally missing the point and taking it out of context.
As far as I'm concerned, America should represent democracy. It's something we're proud of, and valuing democracy is something you can find in both major parties. I think you can stop anyone in the street and ask them, and they'd agree. It's something that if you put it in a movie, most Americans will tear up, or sit up straighter. You can't help it.
So you'd think that democracy would be valued enough, that the country that invented it - and don't split hairs because that's not the point - would be able to safeguard it. That the democratic process is corrupt here for some Americans is too shocking to accept.
In truth, historically there have always been problems; candidates buying votes, or offering "Free Beer!" to lumberjacks on the way to vote; intimidation at the polls (especially of blacks); gerrymandering districts.
But for an American, to hear that democracy is corrupt enough, on a big enough scale, for this to affect the outcome -? It's like hearing your mother has cancer.
For me, this kicks up my irritation with my European friends. Lived there for a while, and I get so sick of the America-bashing. I'm not much of a flag-waver, and I've always been ultra-liberal leaning towards FDR-style Socialist Democracy. I've always been critical of the leadership of this country. But democracy, boy, that's the sacred cow.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2004-09-18 09:13 am (UTC)People are totally missing the point and taking it out of context.
As far as I'm concerned, America should represent democracy. It's something we're proud of, and valuing democracy is something you can find in both major parties. I think you can stop anyone in the street and ask them, and they'd agree. It's something that if you put it in a movie, most Americans will tear up, or sit up straighter. You can't help it.
So you'd think that democracy would be valued enough, that the country that invented it - and don't split hairs because that's not the point - would be able to safeguard it. That the democratic process is corrupt here for some Americans is too shocking to accept.
In truth, historically there have always been problems; candidates buying votes, or offering "Free Beer!" to lumberjacks on the way to vote; intimidation at the polls (especially of blacks); gerrymandering districts.
But for an American, to hear that democracy is corrupt enough, on a big enough scale, for this to affect the outcome -? It's like hearing your mother has cancer.
For me, this kicks up my irritation with my European friends. Lived there for a while, and I get so sick of the America-bashing. I'm not much of a flag-waver, and I've always been ultra-liberal leaning towards FDR-style Socialist Democracy. I've always been critical of the leadership of this country. But democracy, boy, that's the sacred cow.
Icarus