It seems to me that two essential elements constitute a great democracy: The primacy of the rule of law and “free and fair” elections as an expression of the will of the people. Here in the United States, we are fond of saying that we are “the greatest democracy in the world” – in spite of the fact that there is growing evidence that our country is beginning to routinely fail to achieve either of these standards.
Is it the fault of the media? Or is it the fault of the American people that we simply refuse to acknowledge and react to this?
I am coming to believe that the fault is ours, and that the media are just like the rest of us in that way: We simply do not want the facts to contradict the lovely story we tell ourselves about ourselves.
Is it the fault of the media? Or is it the fault of the American people that we simply refuse to acknowledge and react to this?
I am coming to believe that the fault is ours, and that the media are just like the rest of us in that way: We simply do not want the facts to contradict the lovely story we tell ourselves about ourselves.
Exhibit 1
I am in awe of the ability of Republicans to continue to harp upon “the rule of law” while consistently – through four of the last five Republican administrations – pardoning the highest-level lawbreakers. Nixon pardoned Jimmy Hoffa, for god’s sake, who then went on to work on his re-election. (Sadly, Nixon’s own criminality now pails compared to that of Bush the Boy.) And although Nixon suffered impeachment hearings and a forced resignation for his crimes, he was saved from the rule of law by Ford’s pardon, which Ford – with a straight face – justified by claiming that Nixon would not be able to receive a fair trial in this country! Conventional wisdom says that the country has decided it was the right thing to do.
Bush the First pardoned all the Iran-Contra criminals from the Reagan administration, which – get this – also served to ensure that his own involvement in their actions was never explored, and we have already watched while the Boy Bush pardoned Scooter Libby for revealing classified information for political purposes.
Now get ready for some more wholesale pardoning as Bush prepares a getaway car for the many lawbreakers in his administration…It will be the most blatant expression for the rule of law in the nation’s history. And where is the media? Egging it on.
And thus we have arrived at a place where it is considered conventional wisdom that the American people are better off NOT knowing the full criminal corruption of their leaders.
Exhibit 2
The entire nation watched as the Supreme Court handed the Presidency to Bush – and did nothing. Instead the media and political class joined together to tell Gore to quit whining and move on.
So when the Republican Secretary of State manipulated voting in Ohio to produce a second victory for the Cowboy in Chief, we didn’t even blink.
Now fresh evidence has emerged – from a Republican – that the Republicans have been manipulating elections as far back as 2002. Have you heard a single story about this in the MSM?
Is this a conspiracy? I don’t think so. It is simply the collective behavior of people who willfully turn away from the truth because the truth is too painful. I have worked in social services for almost 25 years, and have seen the wreckage of dysfunctional families. The US electorate is one big dysfunctional family, and “see no evil; hear no evil; speak no evil” (unless against Democrats) is our mantra.
I am in awe of the ability of Republicans to continue to harp upon “the rule of law” while consistently – through four of the last five Republican administrations – pardoning the highest-level lawbreakers. Nixon pardoned Jimmy Hoffa, for god’s sake, who then went on to work on his re-election. (Sadly, Nixon’s own criminality now pails compared to that of Bush the Boy.) And although Nixon suffered impeachment hearings and a forced resignation for his crimes, he was saved from the rule of law by Ford’s pardon, which Ford – with a straight face – justified by claiming that Nixon would not be able to receive a fair trial in this country! Conventional wisdom says that the country has decided it was the right thing to do.
Bush the First pardoned all the Iran-Contra criminals from the Reagan administration, which – get this – also served to ensure that his own involvement in their actions was never explored, and we have already watched while the Boy Bush pardoned Scooter Libby for revealing classified information for political purposes.
Now get ready for some more wholesale pardoning as Bush prepares a getaway car for the many lawbreakers in his administration…It will be the most blatant expression for the rule of law in the nation’s history. And where is the media? Egging it on.
And thus we have arrived at a place where it is considered conventional wisdom that the American people are better off NOT knowing the full criminal corruption of their leaders.
Exhibit 2
The entire nation watched as the Supreme Court handed the Presidency to Bush – and did nothing. Instead the media and political class joined together to tell Gore to quit whining and move on.
So when the Republican Secretary of State manipulated voting in Ohio to produce a second victory for the Cowboy in Chief, we didn’t even blink.
Now fresh evidence has emerged – from a Republican – that the Republicans have been manipulating elections as far back as 2002. Have you heard a single story about this in the MSM?
Is this a conspiracy? I don’t think so. It is simply the collective behavior of people who willfully turn away from the truth because the truth is too painful. I have worked in social services for almost 25 years, and have seen the wreckage of dysfunctional families. The US electorate is one big dysfunctional family, and “see no evil; hear no evil; speak no evil” (unless against Democrats) is our mantra.
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