Democracy: Get Rid of It
Billions and Billions deceived daily!I've had it. Finished. Sick of it. Democracy is worthless. Every two-bit dictator and government with something to hide knows they just have to use the word "democracy" to describe any action or atrocity, and the world Media, UN and human rights agencies will bend over and drool like a drunken prom date in a limo.
Democracy. She's become a cheap whore to the world's despots:
1994: Genera Sani Abacha, dictator of Nigeria repressed his people under the banner of democracy by holding fake elections that insured his victory and subsequently murdering pro-democracy supporters.
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1965: Mobutu Sese Seko, president of Zaire had, according to our buddies at Amnesty International, vowed to keep Zaire "safe for democracy" only to use the statement as the usual cloak to torture his opponents and ignore the starvation of his people.
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Today: Anyone out there bother to check who's running the People's "Democratic" Republic of Korea?
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The U.S., supposedly the world's shining beacon of democratic practice insists on forcing their version of the term on a non-compliant world. How ironic. The Yanks can't even bring themselves to give other nations the freedom of choice to select their own systems. What has this done to the world's perception of democracy when its supposed greatest practicing nation uses a democratic banner to cloak its hegemony?
No, all that democracy can provide these days is another strategic tool that anyone can use to leverage any political position and stall world condemnation. I say, let's let the despotic autocrats and warlords of the world call whatever they want a democracy. We'll let them have the term. We've cheapened it enough.
I say, get rid of democracy! It's done, used up. We're now at the critical point in world history where just about everyone has lived by or heard about democracy long enough to know how to manipulate it for their own personal gains. There is no longer any novelty to democracy. Gone are the days when democracy meant public responsibility and public sacrifice. Enter now the new definition: mob rule. Let's see, how many "people power" movements have overthrown the Phillipine government since their initial successful effort? And, for that matter, since April has any group of Nepalis with an "issue" not chosen to take to the streets?
Girija and Prachanda have used democracy masterfully. They professed that the April movement would restore (the comically oxymoronic) "absolute democracy." Well Nepal, seen an election yet? Seen any attempt at democratic compromise or reconcilliation yet? Seen any kind of equal representation even being proposed yet?
No, all that democracy can provide these days is another strategic tool that anyone can use to leverage any political position and stall world condemnation. I say, let's let the despotic autocrats and warlords of the world call whatever they want a democracy. We'll let them have the term. We've cheapened it enough.
I say, get rid of democracy! It's done, used up. We're now at the critical point in world history where just about everyone has lived by or heard about democracy long enough to know how to manipulate it for their own personal gains. There is no longer any novelty to democracy. Gone are the days when democracy meant public responsibility and public sacrifice. Enter now the new definition: mob rule. Let's see, how many "people power" movements have overthrown the Phillipine government since their initial successful effort? And, for that matter, since April has any group of Nepalis with an "issue" not chosen to take to the streets?
Girija and Prachanda have used democracy masterfully. They professed that the April movement would restore (the comically oxymoronic) "absolute democracy." Well Nepal, seen an election yet? Seen any attempt at democratic compromise or reconcilliation yet? Seen any kind of equal representation even being proposed yet?
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No, what we need is a breath of fresh air. Start a movement that incorporates all the beloved and sacred ideas of democracy as we knew it and just call it something else. I miss old favorites like: rule of law, the committment to the peaceful resolution of disputes, equal representation under the law, respect for minority opinions and rights and a few of those other pillars of old-school democratic thought. It would be nice to find a new home for such noble ideas.
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How about this: EQUALISM
Or this: UNITEDOCRACY
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Really, any term will work, as long as it's not democracy.
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-=blogdai
posted by blogdai @ 8/30/2006 06:06:00 PM
18 comments
18 Comments:
A new bottle for old wine, eh?
What makes you sure the new bottle won't break either?
How about new world methods vs old world? Guarantees a consistent vintage.
Might make an interesting blend.
Nepali Zinfandel.
I do like new world methods as long as character is not sacrificed in the process. New world method were built on the shoulders of old world techniques.
All I know now is that the bottle we have has long since peaked and is past its prime.
-=blogdai
Blog dai,
Feels like I am driving a car at top speed, its out of control and I heading straight for the fall!
How about Flexocracy or maocracy. After all maoist are running the democratic show all over Or we could have anycracy which will embrace maoist, GPK, SPA, India and US. We could also have a board hung every where saying “An hour for a buck”. Anyone can come and get their buck worth of intercourse and more!
Democracy has become the biggest ball game. And Nepal is climbing up the charts. Hurray!
Author.
And its surprising the number of passionately idiotic zealots who buy into this democracy myth.
People, on the whole, are stupid. They don't want to challenge themselves and think of the consequences of their actions. They just want to follow the sentiment of the moment that makes them feel good.
Trouble is, when the axe falls they still won't learn.
It's a wonder that humans arrogantly claim intellectual superiority over other species.
-=blogdarwin
Well, i think since there is no exact definition of democracy except for ,"for the people by the people" crap, we tend to make our own definitions. In nepal we need to realize that democracy does not actually mean absolute freedom. If you ask me, democracy simply means, "EQUAL, CONSISTENT AND IMPARTIAL JUUSTICE FOR ALL". Any system of government that can achieve this is in fact a democratic government.
Nice, and goddammit B, very insightful. The world is obsessed with labels and classifications. The bottom line is: if you're not practicing the things you mention, on the ground, you're not a democracy.
In fact, Thomas jefferson argued that democracy, by its very nature, should adapt to conditins on the ground and subject itself to periodic upheavals.
Ahhh, blogdai is rejuvenated thanks to B.
-=blogdai
One of the stupidest articles I've read in a while that I could not help commenting.
You trash democracy but surprise surprise you guys want to go back calling the autocratic regime "democratic".
Well, had democracy not been run the roughshod through the mill of the popular media and abused by every leader looking for world attention, then I'd agree with you.
SPAM banying about the term "absolute democracy" and the Maoists now quoting their hope for a "democratic Nepal" would be the "stupidest" thing I've read in a while. Next too your poor syntax, of course.
-=blogdai
Dearest Blogdai,
I think the problem is not with "Democracy" per se, but rather a misuse of the term by people who do not understand it or understands it incorrectly. So lets not start ranting how sick of it we are but rather work towards educating people what it fundamentally means. As you have correctly qouted Jefferson...who ever said democracy is perfect and well defined? It is supposed to evolve and in doing so bring us closer to truth, justic and equality. But really what are these three words haina?
Yours only,
Blogbhai
blogbhai! Welcome back.
AGreed, the point of the article was to show how various groups have learned to manipulate the term.
I honestly don't think a lot of them have any intendion of actually practicing democracy in the first place.
-=blogdai
Well anonymous,
I agree with some of your points and disagree with some aswell. I believe that there needs to be a few changes for our democratic system to work properly like:
THE PM NEEDS TO BE ELECTED BY THE ENTIRE NATION: Although everyone opposing the king kept saying that at least with democracy we can throw away leaders that we do not like. But the sad fact is, we have not been able to throw away Mr. GPK for the past 15 years. All needs to do is win an election in one of the district and the party will declare him the prime minister. I think the entire nation have to have their say in who becomes the pm. Also no one (including the one who is already a pm) should be allowed to run for PM again once he loses an election for prime ministership.
STRENGTHEN JUDICIAL SYSTEM: Our rights are not preserved by the parliament or the king. It is infact the judiciaries who protects our rights provisioned by the constitution. So, like i said earlier, democracy simply means "EQUAL, CONSISTENT AND IMPARTIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL". Nothing more becuase it is the judiciaries that protect us from being used or abused. There is no democracy as long as police beat up taxi drivers and rickshaw drivers for parking in the wrong place. These poor people can not go to court and expect justice (at least effective and impartial justice) and hence Chakka jam. If we had effective judicial system, maybe the maoists would not have revolted against the state as they would have been heard by the court and maybe most of their legitimate demands would have been granted.
EDUCATION: i think our educational system at the moment is in a rotten state. We lack efficient human and other physical resources on the one hand and on the other this sector has been neglected for so long that it would take a herculian effort to rectify the errors. We have a system where students dont need to go to classes and simply appear in exams and get a degree. With the affiliation system it takes atleast 5 years to change/modify or add any subject to any curriculum and by the time it is changed it becomes obsolete. The sad fact is that, none of the political parties ever come up with any educational policies at all. With the rate of brain drain our country is facing, who do you think is going to be incharge of the country in the next 20 years? The same students, who dont go to class, but instead are always practicing stone throwing exercises on the street. Even if we want to make a fair dealwith our giant neighbors, our ignorance will limit our determination. the other fact is also that, by the next 50 years we will need hundreds of managers and engineers to compete with the indians and chinese ones as they will be investing here. If we can not compete, we will remain bhadurs serving at their gates.
KING: i do not see how this regime is any more democratic than the previous one. At least there use to talks about different projects, policies and planning. At the present times, the SPA just sit and wait for another SHIKHAR BAARTA. This is not a government but instead a negotiating team and nothing more. And for you kind information, the armed struggle of the maoists was only initiated during a democratic period when the so called people's representatives were still in power.
TERRORISM: For every state suffering from terrorism there is another one supporting terrorism. Whether you talk about Maoists or Al Qaeda they are sponsored by a state for their vested interest. Why do you think the whole world united against Osama bin laden can not caputre him? Why do you think mr. musharaf is supported by the US? Dont you think any government in pakistan would have supported the US unconditionally in its war against terrorism?
Good stuff B.
-=BD
I wonder how much longer the king is going to stay on the sideline?
What do you think ?
I thought you might be interested to read this Blogdai:
"Comparatively, literacy rates have risen from 5% in 1951 to 39.6% in 1991 during this periods of political stability and instability. This represents a 34.6% growth with an average increase of 1.156% year on year.
Even so, the democratic experiment was to be restored in 1991 but not without the political instability of Jan Andolan I . This political change coincides with Nepal’s commitment to the values and policy prerogatives of the ‘Education For All’ conference held in Jomtien, Thailand. The newly elected government also extended free education until the School Leavers Certificate at the age of 16. In principle, school education was now free from primary level to secondary level.
The effects are unremarkable given the number of promises made. Literacy rates have grown 14.1% to 53.7% in 2001. Whilst it remains to be seen whether a year on year rise of 1.4% set against all the promises of the newly formed government and constitution in 1991 is real progress. In short, this is but a 0.24% increase from over the last 40 years of instability and stability."
Isn't democracy wonderful?
Ok got to rush....
I
MD:
After loosing his credibility and respect, it it perhaps best if the King stays on the sidelines.
Blogdai... I think it's time for a new blog. What say you?
Mr. Bhudai,
"Blogdai... I think it's time for a new blog. What say you?"
I could not agree with you more pundit jee.
"After loosing his credibility and respect, it it perhaps best if the King stays on the sidelines."
Well, i agree he should stay on the sidelines, there is no doubt about it. However, i do not understand how he managed to lose his credibility in a nation that can not even come up with one honest and efficient leader. He is less credible than who? Prachanda or GPK? Or have you taken the burden of assuming that all Nepalis have suddenly turned republic without proper measuring procedure? I think i have said this to you before and i will say it again that, Democracy will not be endangered as long as the leaders are honest towards their responsibility. However, not only democracy but even the nation will be on the line if the leaders once again and as predicted fail to deliver with or without the king.
Show me one leader that is respected and i will show you how respected the king is.
Yeah, the Americans probably are going to think a minute or two ( given their capabilities ) before going on another democratization spree, but the fact is, where democracy has worked, its worked quite well.
And of course, where it hasn't, its failed miserable, but I don't think its quite that bad in Nepal yet. I take classes in political science where they tell you a country ought to have institutions, its culture ought to be receptive to democracy, etc.....now Maharaj Adhiraj had a little time to implement some of those things, but he was too busy sightseeing in Kenya. I don't expect the current crop of 'democratic leaders' will create those institutions so we might have to wait for a few more years.
Heck man, what's your solution? Military rule? Look at Burma. Its not exactly a shining example of progress.
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