The House has voted on the war spending bill which is conditional on American troops starting to be pulled out of Iraq by the beginning October this year. But that is where the façade of American democracy will end. President Bush has already stated that, despite the American people voting against the Republican Party that was for war and despite the requirements of the House in congress, Bush will veto the bill.
So much for democracy.
Real democracy is underpinned by a justice system that treats its people with equality under the law. It seems in America some people are more equal than others. Certainly those that are held in American concentration camps at Guantanamo are less equal than others and it looks like they are going to be even less equal if the US ‘Justice’ Department gets its way in the federal appeals court as the Department asks the court to limit even further prisoner access to lawyers.
So much for democracy.
And Bush wants the rest of the world to be just like America!!?? It’s getting to the stage now where even Americans don’t want America to be like America!
Do the world a favour before it’s too late – get rid of these lunatics.
AUSTRALIANS AT WAR
THE NEW AMERICAN CENTURY is a compelling factual history of neoconservatism and its influence on US Foreign Policy in the Middle East during the first decade of the twenty-first century. Click on image above for details.
11 comments:
It's a little early to write off American democracy because the President is exercising his power to veto a bill.The veto is part of the democratic process in the US and it can be overturned by Congress should they desire to do so.
If the Congress is committed to passing the bill and has the numbers to overturn the veto then they will.
Note, too, that George W Bush has vetoed only ONE bill in his entire Presidency.
In comparison, Democrat Presidents vetoed dozens:
* Clinton - 37 vetoes
* Carter - 31 vetoes
* Johnson - 30 vetoes
If the Presidential veto is a sign of democracy being eroded then you have to admit that GWB is nowhere near the worst offender.
NB - Bush Snr and Reagan both used the veto a lot, also. GWB is a real exception to recent Presidencies.
The fact remains that the people of America want the troops out. Bush, despite his 'democratic' powers of veto, refuses to acknowledge the peoples will.
Cheating at the polls, which Bush did at two elections, is also undemocratic. Lying to the people in order to start wars is undemocratic. Torturing people is not what democratic nations do. Denying justice is not what democratic nations do. Invading sovereign nations is not what democratic nations do. Plundering other nations resources is not what democratic nations do.
You can spin it whatever way you like sunshine, Bush has eroded what little 'democracy' was left in America. Using the fact that many other Presidents have abused their veto power is hardly an argument to support the notion that America still has 'democracy'.
What do you suggest the Congress do, then? If they really want to do the will of the American people then they will try and overturn the veto - but getting 2/3 is a lot harder than getting a simple majority.
The American people may have given the Dems a majority but they did not give then the 2/3 majority to overturn Presidential vetoes.
It's not for me to suggest what congress do; I'm merely making an observation about the general erosion of America's so-called 'democracy'. The veto bit is but just part of the overall problem that the Americans and the world face.
"The veto bit is but just part of the overall problem that the Americans and the world face."
The veto is not a "problem" for anyone, including America. America has lived well for more than two centuries with Presidential veto powers. It's no danger to the American democratic system nor to the world.
Look at the votes for the bill in question: the House managed a majority on near-party lines. A couple of Republicans voted for it and a few Dems didn't but - largely - they split by party. If they tried to over turn the veto Pelosi would have to grab 70 or votes from the other side...which just isn't going to happen.
The people may have been happy to put Pelosi in charge of the House but they didn't trust her enough to give the Dems a 66% share of the votes. It'll be vetoed and they won't succeed in challenging the veto.
The people have spoken - it just happens that you don't like all of what they had to say.
The people indeed have spoken - they did that at the polls and made it clear that they were no longer interested in war. It's a pity that their voice is not refelected in the stance of those who they voted for when it comes to voting in congress.
It's also a pity that their President isn't listening either and is abusing the right of veto in order to perpetuate a war the people clearly do not want.
The people, the only entity that counts in a real democracy, do not want this war to continue. Those they have elected are ignoring them.
So much for democracy.
Don't forget all those signing statements.
Yes, indeed. And all those petitions
Ai ai ai - Guys: accept the democratic process, will you?
More on Bush and signing statements:
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20060113.html
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