Delusional in praise of the U.S. political system
Alexis de Tocqueville observed that the American people never tire of self-praise and exaggeration when it comes to glorifying their democracy.
The American people have change plenty since then but that obnoxious habit remains. American political culture is incredibly delusional in its praise of the U.S. political system being somehow greater than everyone’s else democracy. The Senate is the self-described ‘most distinguished body’ and when Barack Obama was sworn in a tearful Dan Rather (disgraced newsman) remarked that only in America is the transition of power so dignified. Dignified? France’s transition is dignified as the old man waves au revoir and the new guy is ushered in a violin melody. America’s transition of power is a two-month-$3billion-slugfest of-negative campaigns-photo-ops-distortions- and illiberal efforts to sabotage an opponents voters by, say, misinforming them that election is really on Wednesday. There is nothing dignified about contemporary American elections.
But some Americans not only think that their system is dignified, but the only peaceful one. Every election year, commentators go on T.V. to praise American participation in the democratic process as some unique experience in comparison to all other nations. Never mind that most people live in democratic societies, but U.S. commentators even go so far as to praise American civility in voting. As if the American people deserve an award for not cutting lines and voting properly. Watching U.S. pundits you get the impression that riots breakout in Norway or Japan whenever they have elections. Apparently, American pundits are still so impressed by the ability of the United States to have peaceful transitions of power. I am surprised Americans do not find this patronizing. And when Bush left office with a 30% approval ratings, pundits once again praised the American system for being so civilized in transferring power from a very unpopular leader. Jacques Chirac left the Elysse with a 10% rating and the French had as smooth as transition - in a country that is otherwise known for rioting about everything!
But Americans will go on talking about the greatness of the Americans people, because, apparently, unlike all others they are so civilized in voting and should take pride in peaceful transitions of power. Big deal!
Not only is American politics vulgar and dominated not by high debate, but moneyed interest, but the nation’s political system is now devoid of accountability. The list here is to long to recount, but take these two examples:
■ German’s defense minister recently resigned because he was found to have engaged in a NATO cover-up of an Afghanistan bombing that killed civilians. America’s defense ministers over the last few years are guilty of the same thing dozens of times over and here in the U.S. of A. there is no accountability.
■ Nothing illustrates the accountability-free zone than the lack of an official Iraq war inquire. Britain has ushered on in and Tony Blair - Bush’s lap poodle - recently testified. Can you imagine the U.S. Congress doing such a thing? Of course not. They have not held a serious hearing once. There simply is no concern for the lives lost and treasury lost as well. That lack of an inquiry is indicative and predictable and really confirms that this previously great nation has crossed the Rubicon.
America has a contemptible political culture where idiocy is the rule. This is a why the nation is incapable of having a thoughtful discussion about tiring terrorists in civilian courts and why it should not torture. Populist imbeciles like Scott Brown run an election of attacking the idea of constitutional rights for alleged terrorists, something the Constitution mandates, and in defense of torture. Nobody read the constitution in the U.S. and the rule du jour for the last 30 decades has been cheap fear-mongering talking points, political assassination, mud slinging, and dogmatic pandering to the lowest common denominator with such non-sense like ‘Obama is a socialist’, ‘terrorists have no rights like Americans (some of them are Americans)’ and ‘I drive a truck’. Along with other classics. It is all about stupid, shock-jock rhetoric. God, it is miserable! And do they know how stupid they sound?
The nation’s politics could not be more removed more from nuance and prose.
But Americans will nonetheless cling to their delusions that their gathering of Neanderthals is a sight of envy for the world. The actual Neanderthals were more sophisticated. And even they knew the concept of accountability.
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Source: http://marcovilla.instablogs.com/entry/americas-delusional-politics/
