Does America really care about democracy?

Answer 1

Very good question.

This is something I have been arguing for a long time. There appears to be a double standard with the current administration.... they say one thing then their actions mean something completely different.

For example, Bush claims his goal is to democratize the Middle East; but, when Hezbollah was democratically elected in Palestine, he refused to legitimize their election results.

Another example is actually Saddam. He was democratically elected also.... many do argue with good reason that he used strong-arm tactics to win. Yet, that is a separate issue because there was an actual election.

Then take into account that you never hear Bush fuss about the royal families that control and run S. Arabia or Jordan... they are allies... giving Bush anything he wants. So, you don't hear him bring their lack of democracy issues up.

Another example is the United Nations. How can we claim we are pro-democracy while we enjoy being one of only five leaders of the UN? Those five nations basically dictate to the others how things will be.

The bottom line is that he doesn't care at all about democracy. When the results of any election, including here, give him what he wants, he is fine. But, as soon as an election results in something he doesn't like, he is suddenly opposed to it.

Answer 2

BeachBum, that is the first time Ive ever seen you post and I must confess, it is full of something...or rather, it's missing something- factual content.

Why should Hezbollah be legitimized? Hezbollah's political rhetoric has centred on calls for the destruction of the state of Israel. Its definition of Israeli occupation has also encompassed the idea that the whole of Palestine is occupied Muslim land and it has argued that Israel has no right to exist. To legitimize Hezbollah would be to sanction a war versus an ally. Don’t be silly.

Yes, Saddam was democratically elected…because he killed or imprisoned any opposition. Sounds democratic to me…

You don’t hear about terrorist organizations originating in Saudi Arabia or Jordan. Why fight a silent partner? Even though some of the terrorists caught have been from Saudi Arabia, there appears to be no direct relationship to their government, unlike Iraq.

The United Nations is as corrupt as our government. Don’t cry foul and accept the corruption of other countries as being acceptable. That’s total crap.

The bottom line is democracy was considered as an ideal in this country until the late 1980’s during G H W Bush’s administration. There was a slight decline in patriotism after the fall of the Soviet Union and the decline goes further still today. Get it straight.

Answer 3

America never was a democracy. It is a republic controlled by the wealthy. The Greeks were close to democracy, but greed always gets into governments.

Answer 4

No, the US is interested in protecting its own best interests. These are usually best suited by a fellow friendly ' democracy' eg Blair's Britain. There was no democracy in Korea, when the US went in supposedly to ' defend democracy'and there was even less democracy when the US went into vietnam to 'defend democracy'

Answer 5

I think that the liberals do, I am not sure about the neo-cons. From Wikipedia Liberalism is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition which holds that liberty is the primary political value.[1] Liberalism has its roots in the Western Enlightenment, but the term now encompasses a diversity of political thought.

Broadly speaking, contemporary liberalism emphasizes individual rights. It seeks a society characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on power, especially of government and religion, the rule of law, free public education, the free exchange of ideas, a market economy that supports relatively free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of all citizens are protected. [2] In modern society, liberals favor a liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law and an equal opportunity to succeed.[3]

Many modern liberals advocate a greater degree of government interference in the free market, often in the form of anti-discrimination laws, civil service examinations, universal education, and progressive taxation. This philosophy frequently extends to a belief that the government should provide for a degree of general welfare, including benefits for the unemployed, housing for the homeless, and medical care for the sick. Such publicly-funded initiatives and interferences in the market are rejected by modern advocates of classical liberalism, which emphasizes free private enterprise, individual property rights and freedom of contract; classical liberals hold that economic inequality, as arising naturally from competition in the free market, does not justify the violation of private property rights.

Liberalism rejected many foundational assumptions which dominated most earlier theories of government, such as the Divine Right of Kings, hereditary status, and established religion. Fundamental human rights that all liberals support include the right to life, liberty, and property. Liberalism has its roots in the Western Enlightenment, but the term now encompasses a diversity of political thought, with adherents spanning a large part of the political spectrum.

A broader use of the term liberalism is in the context of liberal democracy (see also constitutionalism). In this sense of the word, it refers to a democracy in which the powers of government are limited and the rights of citizens are legally defined; this applies to nearly all Western democracies, and therefore is not solely associated with liberal parties.

Answer 6

Political parties and democracy are merely an ILLUSION, because THIS secret and evil group has been in control of everything for far too long!...
http://www.rense.com/general58/suspre.htm

Answer 7

Democracy is on the verge of being flushed down the toilet in America.

Answer 8

democracy is a farud

Answer 9

I believe that my family & yours should not have to all die in bomb attacks from terrorists.
I believe that gemocracy does not allow every Hispanic in world the right to bleed our country dry of financial resources.
I believe Democracy & the Constitution was written for American Citizens not every nutcase that comes to our country.
I believe if we can help other countries to have Democracy, if that is what they want is our duty.

Answer 10

of course America does...why else would they take part in the government or even go & vote every 4 years?