Democratic Stalemate
We’re more than a few years into the 21st century, a time that once was predicted to be rampant with flying cars, robots that would do everything that humans used to, and space would be massively colonized. But, instead, we’re no really further ahead than we were many years ago. There have been numerous technological innovations since the industrial revolution that freed humanity from the shackles of mundane tasks, allowing us more free time.
This precious free time allowed for many nations in both the eastern and western hemispheres to push forward with new governments, abolishing feudal systems and antiquated monarchies whose powers have been reduced to mere symbolism. The old conditions sowed the seeds for revolution, allowing people to seize power and change their world.
The earliest revolutions occurred before the industrial revolution, sending shock waves through the British Empire and the French Empire.
Colonial America took up arms against its British overlord and allocated power to the people in the form of legislative and judicial power with the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation.
The embattled French peasantry rose up against Louis XVI in a event that would become known as the French Revolution, ending the legacy of the French monarchy, and establishing the first republic of France, heavily inspired by the American Revolution.
These events were the trademark symbols of the 18th century.
The 19th century, an era of conservative thinking, commonly called the Victorian era because of the immense influence that Queen Victoria of England wielded over the numerous English colonies, including and not limited to Upper and Lower Canada, later known as Eastern and Western Canada. The era brought in conservative thinking and ‘mannerisms’ that reflected the desires of the Queen.
The grip on power held by the British inflamed passions in the areas known as Upper and Lower Canada, sparking the rebellions of Upper and Lower Canada, eventually leading to the formation of the Dominion of Canada, under the British North Americas Act.
The common feature of all these revolutions was the desire for change. The desire for change, no matter what year doesn’t change. People have desires and they long for answers when things don’t appear right.
Fast forward to the 20th century, the hundred years in which the world change the most. A time when the world was turned upside down and all current ways of thinking were challenged.
1917 Russia, the proletarian grew irritated with the lack of action by the Romanovs, the last of the Russian Tsars. Under the guidance of Stalin, Lenin and Trotsky, the efforts to bring Marx’s communist theory to life gained momentum, and thus ended the reign of one of the most powerful monarchies in Europe. With the fall of Tsar brought in years of brutal dictatorial regimes, first under Stalin who created the notorious gulags, through to Khrushchev and Gorbachev; the fall of the Berlin Wall ending the Soviet reign of terror and sphere of influence.
Other notable revolutions that ended previous regimes that were either monarchies or oligarchies that landed in the hands of those who became corrupted with power were the Cuban Revolution and the Iranian Revolution (Islamic Revolution).
Another eerily common component of all the revolutions was that the changes were because the people wanted it and not because the external political interests wanted it to happen.
International political pressure has no say in the way something goes down because the people themselves have to want the change. Those who merely have a political interest have yet to realise that the seeds of revolution can only be planted when the desire exists. The seeds need fertile conditions in which to grow. Ousting unfavoured leaders doesn’t achieve the revolution desired. Nor does the potential death of a strong, charismatic leader ensure such changes either. The changes can only come when the heart changes.
Forcing democratic changes doesn’t happen because George Bush decides for it to happen. Putting a national leader on trial in a kangaroo court doesn’t sooth hard feelings and end vendettas. Executing a national leader due to political interests doesn’t instantly end secretariat violence, nor does sending in more troops accomplish anything more than souring over hard feelings.
Just because George Bush decides that Hussein isn’t the type of leader that Iraq needs doesn’t mean he knows what’s best for a country he knows squat about, other than what his generals tell him. Nor does he know what’s good for Cuba just because Castro is on the fritz.
Democracy arrives when the people are ready, not when George Bush decides that it’s time to bring democracy to the people. He can’t bring democracy overseas until he brings democracy to America, and America has never seen democracy before because it’s a republic, and a republic is not a democratic institution.
Has democracy arrived in Iraq? Does an election mean that the Iraqis have the prized western ‘democracy’ at their finger tips? Not really, as dictatorships have elections as well, even if these elections are simply for show, just like the 2000 Presidential Election.
Does Cuba have elections? Sure, but does that make them a democracy?
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations have elections, but does that make them democracies? No.
Despite that, Bush still insists that voting is a key element of democracy, when elections and voting can happen in the absence of democracy, as America has proven time and time again in their elections.
Democracy means nothing when the people lack basic services like health and education as well as civil infrastructure.
The people of Iraq live in fear of the terrorists who were never a concern before the Americans came in, bragging how they would be welcomed as liberators. The Iraqis used to have healthcare and education, but now have ‘democracy’, daily terrorist attacks and military checkpoints governed by trigger-happy Americans with frayed nerves, ready to shoot anything that moves.
Cuba has one of the most revered healthcare systems in the world and a high-ranked education system. Venezuela thrives off a socialist style system where the poorest are given what they need.
The beacons of ‘democracy’ have shown no effort in giving the people what they need.
When was the last time American politicians listened to the people?
Stumble It!
