Bush, Democracy, and Other Contradictions

28 December, 2006

Democracy – Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.[1]  This is how the Dictionary defines Democracy, which is supposed to be the system of government in America.  Recently, the people elected their representatives and, barring an intervention by the Republican Party, the majority in both houses of the new Congress will shift to the Democrats.  How might the current Neocon administration plot to regain control of Congress before the next election?

 

One way to recapture the majority in the Senate would be to arrange for a Democratic Senator from a state with a Republican governor to become incapacitated as a result of something resembling a stroke.  The Republican governor would then be able to appoint a Republican to fill the vacancy until the next election, as is permitted in most states except Oregon, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.[2]  The power in the US Senate would then shift from 51 Democrats – 49 Republicans to 50 – 50 with a deciding vote in favor of the Republicans being cast by President Pro Tem Dick Chaney. 

 

Consider the case of Senator Tim Johnson (Democrat, South Dakota) to whom I wish a rapid and complete recovery.  Now, Senator Johnson just happens to be Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics and is a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Budget Committee.  Also, he is a strong critic of the Bush plan to privatize Social Security,[3] and hence a probable target of the Neocons.  He appeared to suffer a sudden stroke during a conference call then later news reports indicated that he has a rare brain condition which could cause death, perhaps without any prior symptoms.[4] 

 

Is this a sinister plot or absurd speculation?   I don’t know, but the contradictions between the ideals of democracy and justice, and the realities of this administration seem to be striking enough to warrant such suspicion.  Look at some highlights of the record of the Bush regime since their coup at the time of the 2000 elections.  They have

 

1. Influenced the Supreme Court to stop a recount that would have confirmed Senator Al Gore’s victory.[5]
2. Used the tragic attacks of 11 September, 2001 as an excuse to begin “The War on Terror,” to invade Afghanistan and Iraq as well as to launch an assault on the US Constitution. [6]
3. Violated International law by ordering the pre-emptive and unjustified invasion of Iraq through lies and deception.[7]
4. Violated the Geneva Convention by use of “extraordinary rendition,” the kidnapping, detention and torturing of people in pursuit of the “War on Terror.”[8]
5. Engaged in the unlawful surveillance of American citizens by means of electronic eavesdropping without obtaining a warrant.[9]
6. Suspended Habeas Corpus and due process of law with the Patriot and Military Commissions Acts.[10]
7. Exposed a CIA operative (Valerie Plame) when her husband, Joseph Wilson, found no evidence to support Bush’s assertions of WMD in Iraq.[11]
8. Responded to the victims of Hurricane Katrina[12] with nonchalance and impunity[13], then instituted a plan to rebuild New Orleans as a resort for the rich.[14]
9. Circumvented laws passed by Congress through use of the “Signing Statement” (over 800 times) more than ALL the previous presidents combined.[15]
10. Gave tax cuts to the wealthy[16], favors to Pharmaceutical companies[17] and no relief to the 46 million Americans without access to health care.[18]
11. Manipulated the 2004 elections with the help of Diebold Corporation[19].
12. Expedited cluster munitions and bunker busters to Israel during the bloody invasion of Lebanon in the summer of 2006.[20]
13. Made nuclear deals with India and Pakistan who are not signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty[21] while using bullying tactics with Iran,[22] who is a signatory to the treaty.
14. Oppressed the poor by cutting social programs[23] while tightening the Bankruptcy laws to favor the credit card companies.[24]
15. Supported the resumption of nuclear weapons research and development,[25] including so-called low-yield nuclear weapons.[26]
16. Refused to act upon the problem of global warming, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence of its reality,[27] and that America shares the bulk of the responsibility for the situation.[28]
17. Spent over $350 Billion (US) for an illegal and immoral war in Iraq[29] while attempting to “privatize” Social Security at home.[30]
18. Caused the deaths of almost 3,000 American soldiers[31] and an estimated 655,000 Iraqis since 20 March 2003.[32]
19. Intimidated and persecuted Blacks, Latinos, Muslims, immigrants and other minorities through profiling, detention and deportation,[33] [34] but failed to prosecute employers hiring improperly documented workers.[35]
20. Helped to increase the membership of Al-Qaeda from an estimated 20,000 in 2001 to 50,000 in 2006,[36] while proposing “foreign fighters” for the US Army.[37]

 

Yes indeed, I have no doubt about it.  With such a record of accomplishments, I am certain that the Bush-Chaney Axis of Evil would be capable of scheming to have a senator incapacitated for its own nefarious purposes of regaining power. 

 

But is there no justice, the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness?[38]  After all, Imperial President Bush stated in his 2003 State of the Union Address, “We have the terrorists on the run. We're keeping them on the run. One by one, the terrorists are learning the meaning of American justice.”[39]  

 

I too am learning the true meaning of American democracy and justice.  It is a skewed system where only the rich and powerful have meaningful rights and the resources to exercise them.  It is a distorted system in which those who are in the greatest need are least likely to receive help.  No, there is no justice here.  This is not democracy, government by the people; it is government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich.[40]

 

Yuram Weiler

2006-12-28

Posted by yuram 13:59 | United States | Comment(0) | Permalink

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