I am happy that my strange feelings turned out to be wrong! :) The American electorate did give notice to the Bush Administration and sent them packing. My faith in the American democracy is restored....somewhat.
Now the ball is in the Democrats court. With both the Senate and House they have to show that they can get better results. Even if the president choses to veto their initiatives, just showing that they are capable of presenting a plan will help the party very much.
I am still reserved as to where the Country by and large is headed. It will remain to be see how different the new Democratic party will be. Article by Simon Tisdall in the Guardian sums up my position well.
Will the new Democratic party also get pulled to the right or will it be able to guide the country down a more pragmatic center?
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Election gimmicks...
Just a day left. Will the Republicans manage to hold on to the majorities in the house and senate?
There is that strange feeling thats what will happen in spite of all the predictions. If it happens, the claim will be last minute canvassing by Bush, Saddams verdict, Kerry's joke, etc, etc. But really, I have to again bring up the possibility of GOP resorting to any number of dirty tricks to hang on to power. As I have posted before, I cannot imagine them giving in without trying all possible tactics, legal or not.
There is that strange feeling thats what will happen in spite of all the predictions. If it happens, the claim will be last minute canvassing by Bush, Saddams verdict, Kerry's joke, etc, etc. But really, I have to again bring up the possibility of GOP resorting to any number of dirty tricks to hang on to power. As I have posted before, I cannot imagine them giving in without trying all possible tactics, legal or not.
- Electronic machines and Diebold. Lot of news on them. Machines showing republican selections in spite of user choosing democratic, etc, etc. Salon had a feature on it.
- Scaring certain vote banks with false information. You will go to jail if you vote.
- Robo calls to make voter negative on a candidate or give false information as to booth location
- Saddams well placed verdict date. How can anybody possibly think that Iraq Court handing it down was independent?
- Rejecting certain vote banks with extra indentity requirements
- and many more..
There is no doubt that some of the tactics will push the numbers towards GOP. The only way they can be countered is if the gap is too much to overcome (> 5% in each contested seat). America will decide tomorrow whether they will stick with a bunch of demagogues or give them their notice!
Friday, October 27, 2006
How will America vote on Nov 7th
From all polls that are being reported it appears that the Americans are leaning towards voting to reduce the support for the Bush Admistration in the house and senate for the next two years. It will be interesting to see if that really happens. I am suspecting that the results this year in the close contests will be challenged much more bitterly than the last two elections. I wouldnt at all be surprised if the actual results do not tally with exit polls. Yes, I am hinting that the current power crazed administration may be tempted to cheat in the elections a bit more boldly to retain power. The last thing they would want is a Democratic majority in either the house or senate or both starting up investigations on all the activity during the last 6 yrs. There has been enough smoke on the Deibold voting machines. We may see the fire this time....
What I can't understand in the polls is how can 36% of the voters still feel that President Bush is doing a Good or Excellent job. Dont they see any news or read the newspaper?
What I can't understand in the polls is how can 36% of the voters still feel that President Bush is doing a Good or Excellent job. Dont they see any news or read the newspaper?
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Rise and Fall of Nations. Is USA on its way down?
The rise and fall of nations! A lofty title and probably way beyond my abilities to write with any authority about it. So, this is just a "gut" feel article rather than a well argued political essay.
Yes, I do think in this century we may see the slow decline of US of America as the world power and rise of another nation or nations to that position. This, in my opinion, is part of the cycle in human history. That is every few centuries or so we see the rise of a nation until they dominate and influence their known world. Eventually, they get so powerful, that they stop doing the very things that got them to that position. Soon, other nations work harder, have better principles or goals until they slowly rise and supplant the one at the top. Well known examples, are the Egyptians, Greek, Romans, British, Germans, etc. The reasons for a fall are varied. The ones at the top get arrogant, successors are corrupt, life gets too easy so they become lazy and those who are down always work harder to reach the top than those who are already at the top!
Now, I am sure most would agree that USA is the top nation right now. I would say it reached its height of power between 1940 to 1970 and stayed there until recently. USA rose to the top on its strong democratic principles, moral judgment irrespective of religion, separation of church and state, internal and external philanthropy, dominating research in almost all fields and above all a very strong constitution that maintained a balance of power and did not allow a radical to control its path. Until recently....which brings me to the title of this post.
President George Bush and his close circle of advisors, Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, Trent Lott among others are in my opinion radicals who have managed to twist that wonderful American constitution to do their bidding. They have cajoled, scared, fooled or just confused the American electorate to go with their agenda. Now what that is I am not too sure and I don't think anybody is for that matter. Whatever it is, the dominant theme seems to be about power. They want it, fully and unconditionally to do what they think is best for the nation. That is why I think, America is now controlled by a radical group who care about winning by any means than winning by advocating what they believe in! Yes, I think they have no qualms about lying blatantly if they feel that it will get them the votes. Democracy and the hold on power is possible when the rulers are not radicals and are willing to listen to different views and change accordingly. Sadly, the group in power in USA is not capable of that anymore.
Still, you could argue, if the next group coming to power, republican or democratic, are not so radical then would that still mean USA is on its way down? I do believe so, simply because, I sense that the American public themselves have changed to being radicals! Otherwise how else can one explain the re-election of a President in 2004 who had lied and led them into a war? Any person could see they were scaring the people with the phantom terror threats. Still the people voted for him. Why? I think its because America is a frightened nation now. They are scared of terrorists, losing jobs, and basically their lifestyle as they know it. So, they gravitate towards anybody who promises to keep the status quo without having to do much personal sacrifice. Just as long as they give up some of the principles and rights which makes America as we have known it. So far, it seems that people are willing to make that choice. And that means, they will always vote for radicals who are going to lead them down the slippery slope.
Over the last 6 to 8 years the fall has been steep. It could recover a bit over the next 10-20 yrs but as the pressure mounts from other nations, I do not believe America will sacrifice as they did in the early part of 20th century. They will be a shell of the nation they are now by the end of this century. Same as the position of England today after its mighty hold over the world in the 19th century. Soon, some other nation or nations will be leading the world culturally, economically and possibly militarily as well.
Who? Maybe we will know in our lifetimes.
Yes, I do think in this century we may see the slow decline of US of America as the world power and rise of another nation or nations to that position. This, in my opinion, is part of the cycle in human history. That is every few centuries or so we see the rise of a nation until they dominate and influence their known world. Eventually, they get so powerful, that they stop doing the very things that got them to that position. Soon, other nations work harder, have better principles or goals until they slowly rise and supplant the one at the top. Well known examples, are the Egyptians, Greek, Romans, British, Germans, etc. The reasons for a fall are varied. The ones at the top get arrogant, successors are corrupt, life gets too easy so they become lazy and those who are down always work harder to reach the top than those who are already at the top!
Now, I am sure most would agree that USA is the top nation right now. I would say it reached its height of power between 1940 to 1970 and stayed there until recently. USA rose to the top on its strong democratic principles, moral judgment irrespective of religion, separation of church and state, internal and external philanthropy, dominating research in almost all fields and above all a very strong constitution that maintained a balance of power and did not allow a radical to control its path. Until recently....which brings me to the title of this post.
President George Bush and his close circle of advisors, Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, Trent Lott among others are in my opinion radicals who have managed to twist that wonderful American constitution to do their bidding. They have cajoled, scared, fooled or just confused the American electorate to go with their agenda. Now what that is I am not too sure and I don't think anybody is for that matter. Whatever it is, the dominant theme seems to be about power. They want it, fully and unconditionally to do what they think is best for the nation. That is why I think, America is now controlled by a radical group who care about winning by any means than winning by advocating what they believe in! Yes, I think they have no qualms about lying blatantly if they feel that it will get them the votes. Democracy and the hold on power is possible when the rulers are not radicals and are willing to listen to different views and change accordingly. Sadly, the group in power in USA is not capable of that anymore.
Still, you could argue, if the next group coming to power, republican or democratic, are not so radical then would that still mean USA is on its way down? I do believe so, simply because, I sense that the American public themselves have changed to being radicals! Otherwise how else can one explain the re-election of a President in 2004 who had lied and led them into a war? Any person could see they were scaring the people with the phantom terror threats. Still the people voted for him. Why? I think its because America is a frightened nation now. They are scared of terrorists, losing jobs, and basically their lifestyle as they know it. So, they gravitate towards anybody who promises to keep the status quo without having to do much personal sacrifice. Just as long as they give up some of the principles and rights which makes America as we have known it. So far, it seems that people are willing to make that choice. And that means, they will always vote for radicals who are going to lead them down the slippery slope.
Over the last 6 to 8 years the fall has been steep. It could recover a bit over the next 10-20 yrs but as the pressure mounts from other nations, I do not believe America will sacrifice as they did in the early part of 20th century. They will be a shell of the nation they are now by the end of this century. Same as the position of England today after its mighty hold over the world in the 19th century. Soon, some other nation or nations will be leading the world culturally, economically and possibly militarily as well.
Who? Maybe we will know in our lifetimes.
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