Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Read this before you vote

If one were to believe the hype, nothing less than the fate the civilized world is riding on the results of the upcoming midterm elections. American-style democracy, we’re told, will step in and sort things out. Reminds me of T.S. Eliot: “An election is coming. Universal peace is declared and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.”

(The next time someone tells you America has a two-party system...I suggest you demand a recount.)

“I think it is dangerous to confuse the idea of democracy with elections,” says Indian writer, Arundhati Roy. “Just because you have elections doesn’t mean you’re a democratic country.” Arundhati’s comment follows nicely on a question Mahatma Gandhi once asked: “What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?”

Read this article before you vote...