hawkeye wrote on Nov 4th, 2008 at 6:04pm:Just a congratulations on your vote for democracy. With record amounts of voters coming out and the possibilitie of real change, no matter who wins, its a great day for the world at large. Perhaps once all the votes are added up and the arguing is over, the rest of us on this little planet will start to see real leadership from the US once again. What I see as a real showing of the desire for change shows me that tens of millions of people in the US are ready to make a difference once again, instead of being led around blindly by the nose. Now if one country like the US can get together and push for instrumental change then just think how possible it will now be for the same as far as spiritual change can be made. Collectively and as a united leader, among all nations, you have the ability to change the world for the better. Hold your government responsible for their actions once again. No longer be sheep. But transform yourselves back into the eagle that at one time you represented. The possibility of a Black man as your President, or a woman as your Vice President shows how ready you are. Welcome back USA.
I am very heartened by recent events. It seems that the majority of people in this country are willing to move into a healthier, more collective direction.
Yet, I question whether or not we still have a true "democracy". It seems pretty darn clear that so much of what our founding fathers warned us about, has already come about.
Sure, the illusion of democracy is still there, and most buy it, because we still do live in an unusual country with various material freedoms that yes, some countries still do not enjoy.
But democracy is too strong of a word, and doesn't quite describe what we now have. It seems much more applicable to countries like France where the gov. usually has a much healthier respect for the opinions, wants, and needs of the people because the French well remember the lessons of the past where we Americans have mostly blithely forgotten them and the very WORDS and warnings of those who tried so hard to set up a good, but not perfect, system of government.
It was hijacked awhile ago (especially after we conveniently lost the gold standard), and has been increasingly manipulated, weakened, and made vulnerable by groups of special interests and immense, almost unbelievable greed and power hunger. And don't forget the collectors of huge sums of money.
The Apple still looks somewhat sweet and delicious, but it is so rotten at its core. Is it not high time to compost the apple? So if we patch the outside of the apple, it will somehow heal the inner?
But like i said, I am very heartened by collective movement of the people... Now if they would just realize that there is so much more to maintaining a true and healthy democracy than going out once every 4 years and pulling the proverbial lever... Ahh, but that requires sooo much more work, self sacrifice, and vigilance than the latter.