“An obstacle to democracy is that the value of its name often exceeds the principles of its practice.” From an old speech by former MP David Kilgore – In his speech, of which this is but a few small extracts, he was talking about democracy across the world but it
Continue readingTag: Other Democracys
Democracy Under Fire: Leadership, Democracy & Twitter
Recently I read an opinion piece in The Hill Times decrying the ‘Lack of Leadership’ in both the U.S. and GB given the current Cluster Fk in both countries. It goes on to say ‘The answer is fairly simply: lack of leadership.’ and that ‘Unbridled populism fails unless it is
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Our Fragile Democracy.
A new index released this week offers a sobering look at how democracy is faring in the United States. According to the 2018 edition of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index, the U.S. doesn’t even make the list of top 20—its demonstrably “flawed democracy” notching it the 25th spot. The
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Democracy in decline?
As my small cadre of regular readers will know I have been writing about our Canadian democracy for nearly 10 years much of that time spent documenting the Harper Regimes disdain for the democratic process. Although I now have less inclination to write the need to continue to keep those
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Sen. John McCain Eulogized
“He was a great man,” “We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness.” “The real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who lived lives of comfort and privilege,” Meghan McCain during
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Democracy Scale.
The Economist Intelligence Unit released on Wednesday its 2017 Democracy Index, which ranks 167 countries on a 0 to 10 scale. Only countries with scores above 8 are categorised as “full” democracies. The US was downgraded from a “full democracy” to a “flawed democracy”in the same study last year, which
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Democracy in Crisis
Freedom House, the U.S.-based institute which surveys the progress of democracy, civil society, freedom of speech and the media round the world has produced a report headlined “Democracy in Crisis” – a grim reportage showing that democracy’s “basic tenets – including guarantees of free and fair elections, the rights of minorities, freedom of
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Speaking Truth to Power.
By now most readers will have read that Sen. Jeff Flake ripped Trump a new one last Wednesday in a speech in the U.S. Senate and perhaps read some extracts from that speech in news reports. If you have not already done so I encourage you to read the entire
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: The Twit and the Future of Democracy in the U.S.
With a blog focused upon democracy my regular readers may have been wondering how I could not write about the real and ongoing threat to democracy occurring to the south of us with the installation of a authoritative but unstable narcissist elected president. I simply don’t know what to say
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: The Twit and the Future of Democracy in the U.S.
With a blog focused upon democracy my regular readers may have been wondering how I could not write about the real and ongoing threat to democracy occurring to the south of us with the installation of a authoritative but unstable narcissist elected president. I simply don’t know what to say
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: A Lament For The World
First he said that he would make America great again.And the naive believed him.Then he said he would create more jobs.And the out of work cheered.Then he said stop the Mexican immigrants.And the bigoted flocked to join him.Then he said he would relinquish control of his companies..And his followers believed
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: A Lament For The World
First he said that he would make America great again.And the naive believed him.Then he said he would create more jobs.And the out of work cheered.Then he said stop the Mexican immigrants.And the bigoted flocked to join him.Then he said he would relinquish control of his companies..And his followers believed
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Freedom, Equality, Accountability & Transparency
Yesterday an estimated half million joinedThe Women’s March on Washington which was supported by hundreds of thousands more gathering in various cities, not only in the U.S. but across the world. Described as “a women-led movement bringing together people of all genders, ages, races, cultures, political affiliations and backgrounds in
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Freedom, Equality, Accountability & Transparency
Yesterday an estimated half million joinedThe Women’s March on Washington which was supported by hundreds of thousands more gathering in various cities, not only in the U.S. but across the world. Described as “a women-led movement bringing together people of all genders, ages, races, cultures, political affiliations and backgrounds in
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Obama on Democracy
Last Tuesday President Obama presented his final speech of his presidency before the incoming Twit in Chief take power this coming Friday. The focus of his speech was as he said “the state of our democracy.”, meaning the state of democracy in the U.S. which surely looks bleak given the
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Obama on Democracy
Last Tuesday President Obama presented his final speech of hispresidency before the incoming Twit in Chief take power this coming Friday. The focus of his speech was as he said “the state of our democracy.”, meaning the state of democracy in the U.S. which surely looks bleak given the Twits
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: The Good, the Bad and the Narcissist
Regular readers will be aware of a lack of posts of late and no commentary on the situation south of us and perhaps are asking how a blog about democracy can be silent about the upcoming change in the U.S. Administration. Apart from being driven almost speechless by the American
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: The Good, the Bad and the Narcissist
Regular readers will be aware of a lack of posts of late and no commentary on the situation south of us and perhaps are asking how a blog about democracy can be silent about the upcoming change in the U.S. Administration. Apart from being driven almost speechless by the American
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Humans of New York on Trump
In case you missed it Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York (http://www.humansofnewyork.com/) just published an open letter to Mr Trump which is going viral on facebook and IMHO sums things up nicely. An Open Letter to Donald Trump: Mr. Trump, I try …
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Humans of New York on Trump
In case you missed it Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York (http://www.humansofnewyork.com/) just published an open letter to Mr Trump which is going viral on facebook and IMHO sums things up nicely.
An Open Letter to Donald Trump:
Mr. Trump,
I try my hardest not to be political. I’ve refused to interview several of your fellow candidates. I didn’t want to risk any personal goodwill by appearing to take sides in a contentious election. I thought: ‘Maybe the timing is not right.’ But I realize now that there is no correct time to oppose violence and prejudice. The time is always now. Because along with millions of Americans, I’ve come to realize that opposing you is no longer a political decision. It is a moral one.
I’ve watched you retweet racist images. I’ve watched you retweet racist lies. I’ve watched you take 48 hours to disavow white supremacy. I’ve watched you joyfully encourage violence, and promise to ‘pay the legal fees’ of those who commit violence on your behalf. I’ve watched you advocate the use of torture and the murder of terrorists’ families. I’ve watched you gleefully tell stories of executing Muslims with bullets dipped in pig blood. I’ve watched you compare refugees to ‘snakes,’ and claim that ‘Islam hates us.’
I am a journalist, Mr. Trump. And over the last two years I have conducted extensive interviews with hundreds of Muslims, chosen at random, on the streets of Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan. I’ve also interviewed hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi refugees across seven different countries. And I can confirm— the hateful one is you.
Those of us who have been paying attention will not allow you to rebrand yourself. You are not a ‘unifier.’ You are not ‘presidential.’ You are not a ‘victim’ of the very anger that you’ve joyfully enflamed for months. You are a man who has encouraged prejudice and violence in the pursuit of personal power. And though your words will no doubt change over the next few months, you will always remain who you are.
Sincerely,
Brandon Stanton
There will be those, particularly I suspect many Trump supporters, who will say what business is it of yours, a Canadian, on who we vote in as our President but it is as Trudeau the senior said when he was a guest of our neighbours to the south……
“Living next to you is in some ways like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast, if I can call it that, one is affected by every twitch and grunt. “
The elephant seems to be getting particularly restless right now!
With the power and influence the U.S. and the President has in world wide politics and conflicts we all most certainly have a legitimate interest in the outcome of this race.
Continue reading