Have a little politics with your dessert.

[icarus]

Independent Election Observer Team Arrives in U.S.

This makes me feel a lot better. The UN is going to watch the Florida elections, along with the ones in Ohio, Arizona, Missouri, and Georgia.

Right on.

Of course, this is a sad state of affairs that the country that invented democracy has to have this to ensure it. But, you do what you gotta do.

Comments

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Hm, I read some of the comments above about the phrasing 'inventing democracy' and while I can't speak about why it bothered others, but it's the same thing than when Clinton said it a few years back...it sounds simplified in a way, and disregarding of previous history.

I realised you meant 'modern form of' democracy or whatever, but it still jumps out to the eye. But then again, I'm Greek, thus more likely to be touchy on the subject. :)

Not to be completely OT, I hope the elections over there are glitch-free.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

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.

Icarus

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can totally understand why people would be so upset at a possible corruption of the democratic process, or feel a general pride at the notion of said process.

For the record, I wasn't bashing, nor do I normally bash the US-or any country as a whole. I bash Bush, certainly, but he offends me at my very core.

Anyway, sorry it I came off as confrontational, wasn't my intent. I do hope your elections will be Bush-free.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's all right. I was being over-sensitive. :)

Icarus