Is the United States Even a Democracy?
August 12, 2014
Just the Facts, Jack
Is the United States Even a Democracy?
by MATT PEPPE
Every one in the world knows that the government of the United States is a democracy, and that the United States stands for promoting democracy around the world. How do we know this is true? Because the government says so, all the time.
“Democracy and respect for human rights have long been central components of U.S. foreign policy,” claims the State Department. “Supporting democracy not only promotes such fundamental American values as religious freedom and worker rights, but also helps create a more secure, stable and prosperous global arena in which the United States can advance its national interests.”
Idealists would say this is a very benevolent sounding notion. Realists might say it is vacuous and inane. But the media, textbooks, even human rights organizations choose to propagate the idealistic version and claim as an article of faith that the United States does not just practice democracy, but embodies the very idea itself.
Democracy is used as a justification for everything the government does – domestically and abroad. Since the U.S. is the embodiment of democracy and democracy is good, then everything the U.S. does is good, by definition.
More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/08/12/is-the-united-states-even-a-democracy/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Just leave it alone. It'll kill itself.
- Just stay out of its way if you can.....
- For one thing, in a democracy you would have equality under the law.
K&R
