Centerfield

I was never a Bush supporter, and in fact took a dim view of his intellect from day 1. But I'd be surprised and disappointed if the Bush admin is so stupid or weak-willed or concerned so much with political expediency that they are willing to let democracy mean one democratic election.

I still hope and expect that the prelude to binding national elections is the prior establishment of a constitution that guarantees minimal human rights, rights to fair due processes, and makes majority dominance unlikely.

If we just let them have an election that installs a Sunni Theocracy that exalts sharia, then every US casualty was a death in vain. I'd be deeply ashamed of my country if we did that.

Do we have the "right" to do that? I think we have to TAKE the right as our responsibility, because the alternative is a fundamentalist government that treats minorty views as criminal and views women and children as property. i simply can't stomach that we'd say "we don''t have the right to do this," and then stand aside and let a repressive and probably vengeful theocracy take over. That would be a disgrace.

That good old saying applies--"Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for lunch." Without balanced safeguards, democracy is certainly no panacea. I would think an enforceable bill of rights and a balance of separated powers would be the minimums. But hey, I'm an American, so I'm biased that direction....

I'm not sure how I feel about the situation in Iraq. A part of me feels that it's important to follow through with what we've begun and leave the country in such a state that another takeover would not be likely. However there is also another part of me that wonders who we think we are to "impose" our form of democracy on anyone else?

I realize that the situation in the Middle East is volatile. I just can't stop wondering what the majority of the people there want. But then, how would you go about getting an accurate and honest poll from a people who have learned to express their true feelings?

Actually, the Gallup Organization has gone to Baghdad. See

http://centristcoalition.com/blog/archives/000195.html

So -- if part of what we mean by 'democracy' is that votes determine the outcome, then that pretty much says it all except for who gets to vote.

Do we get a vote?

Human rights and property rights are more important than democracy. Especially with Americans, under a very public spotlight, in charge and trying hard to avoid making big mistakes. Free speech & press is more important than elections.

I don't know why there isn't more talk about local elections for mayors, who would have some real, but limited, budget making and spending power -- and Iraqis could get used to public disagreement.

reregreergrg