Comments on: Heresy Against Democracy http://www.secularconservative.net/foreign-policy/heresy-against-democracy/ Mon, 10 May 2010 01:39:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ZAC D. http://www.secularconservative.net/foreign-policy/heresy-against-democracy/#comment-9270 ZAC D. Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:28:05 +0000 http://www.secularconservative.net/?p=702#comment-9270 This begs the question which scenario is more ethical the one where we allow countries to live under repressive dictatorships or the other one where we advocate or bring democracy to them? Would you have made this argument during the cold war? Or how about post-ww2? Would you have seriously argued that the Russians and Japanese similar to the Iraqis had no concept of democracy? Ergo, there should have been no reason for us to help collapse the soviet union to make way for democracy there or to rewrite japan's shinto constitution into a democratic constitution? Would you really argue that Iraq was better off under a dictator like Saddam? You claim dictatorship is not a evil mechanism, but I say to you that depends on the actions of the dictator. The longer the dictator stays in power the more suppressive and repressive his actions become due to his growing need for complete control over his subjects, brought about by paranoia which slowly creeps into his mindset over time regardless if his intentions were good or bad to begin with. eg. FIDEL & CUBA. Thus, unless repersentive democracy and temporary dictatorship exist (ie. democracy) there can be no liberty, freedom, freedom of religion, free thought, or truely free markets. You forget Iraq is a democracy but it is also a democracy based on modern/reformed version of Sharia law. This is not the American model of democracy in Iraq per se, but it sure beats the dictatorship of Saddam. Both actions in my view have unintended consequences... But I think it's more ethical to argue for democracy than against it. What say you? This begs the question which scenario is more ethical the one where we allow countries to live under repressive dictatorships or the other one where we advocate or bring democracy to them? Would you have made this argument during the cold war? Or how about post-ww2? Would you have seriously argued that the Russians and Japanese similar to the Iraqis had no concept of democracy? Ergo, there should have been no reason for us to help collapse the soviet union to make way for democracy there or to rewrite japan’s shinto constitution into a democratic constitution? Would you really argue that Iraq was better off under a dictator like Saddam? You claim dictatorship is not a evil mechanism, but I say to you that depends on the actions of the dictator. The longer the dictator stays in power the more suppressive and repressive his actions become due to his growing need for complete control over his subjects, brought about by paranoia which slowly creeps into his mindset over time regardless if his intentions were good or bad to begin with. eg. FIDEL & CUBA. Thus, unless repersentive democracy and temporary dictatorship exist (ie. democracy) there can be no liberty, freedom, freedom of religion, free thought, or truely free markets. You forget Iraq is a democracy but it is also a democracy based on modern/reformed version of Sharia law. This is not the American model of democracy in Iraq per se, but it sure beats the dictatorship of Saddam.

Both actions in my view have unintended consequences… But I think it’s more ethical to argue for democracy than against it. What say you?

]]> By: David in South Carolina http://www.secularconservative.net/foreign-policy/heresy-against-democracy/#comment-6566 David in South Carolina Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:52:32 +0000 http://www.secularconservative.net/?p=702#comment-6566 This along with your other one is absolutely right. We can't be forcing our beliefs on other people, especially when democracy just don't work the same in other places. When we disagree, we wave signs and scream for them to be voted out of office. When ppl in Iraq/Afganistan disagree, they wave guns and scream for bloody vengeance. I just don't see them adjusting without a much bigger, stronger bully (like us) around to force them to the table. Without us around, the country would completely fall apart. This along with your other one is absolutely right. We can’t be forcing our beliefs on other people, especially when democracy just don’t work the same in other places. When we disagree, we wave signs and scream for them to be voted out of office. When ppl in Iraq/Afganistan disagree, they wave guns and scream for bloody vengeance. I just don’t see them adjusting without a much bigger, stronger bully (like us) around to force them to the table. Without us around, the country would completely fall apart.

]]> By: Andrew Clunn http://www.secularconservative.net/foreign-policy/heresy-against-democracy/#comment-6296 Andrew Clunn Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:41:17 +0000 http://www.secularconservative.net/?p=702#comment-6296 I'm going to withhold judgment until I read that follow up piece. As it stands right now, I have a few points of contention with your position, as expressed in this post. I’m going to withhold judgment until I read that follow up piece. As it stands right now, I have a few points of contention with your position, as expressed in this post.

]]> By: Cephus http://www.secularconservative.net/foreign-policy/heresy-against-democracy/#comment-6207 Cephus Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:05:09 +0000 http://www.secularconservative.net/?p=702#comment-6207 People who say "I support democracy" really haven't thought about it much, but then again, most of those people think the U.S. is a democracy, not a representative republic. These are the same people who mindlessly vote party lines, regardless of party, just because they think the people in those parties think like they do. They don't bother to think about what this nation does or why it does it, they just wear those silly foam fingers and yell "We're #1!" and act like they're somehow making a political statement. The only statement most of them are making is "I don't know what I'm talking about, but at least I'm jumping up and down!" People who say “I support democracy” really haven’t thought about it much, but then again, most of those people think the U.S. is a democracy, not a representative republic. These are the same people who mindlessly vote party lines, regardless of party, just because they think the people in those parties think like they do. They don’t bother to think about what this nation does or why it does it, they just wear those silly foam fingers and yell “We’re #1!” and act like they’re somehow making a political statement.

The only statement most of them are making is “I don’t know what I’m talking about, but at least I’m jumping up and down!”

]]> By: Janus http://www.secularconservative.net/foreign-policy/heresy-against-democracy/#comment-6194 Janus Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:45:29 +0000 http://www.secularconservative.net/?p=702#comment-6194 Coming soon: The virtues of the republic and why it works so well for us. I'm hoping it will be out Wednesday. Stay tuned. Coming soon: The virtues of the republic and why it works so well for us. I’m hoping it will be out Wednesday. Stay tuned.

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