OT: Decisions

[Guest guest]

I suspect most would want agreement from those who think as they

> do .. few folks want agreement from those who differ - huh?

>

Thats pretty funny- and true :-)

 

> Beginning in the next 36 hours or LESS action will begin.

 

Then I suppose my father in law will be getting ready to go and run the port

in Iraq....boy is he excited...

 

Michelle

[Guest guest]

Hi y'all,

 

In order to effectively determine if a leader has the " permission " of

the people, one would need a very scientific poll .. or a referendum,

which is probably even less scientific. The closest we have in the USA

is the Gallup Poll ... but that poll swings back and forth much like the

Down Jones Average .. so following the polls would require a lot of the

leader's time and effort and if they swing with the polls they will come

across as being not too sincere .. as would be the case. ;-p

 

Should Americans, the British or any other country that operates on

democratic principles, elects representatives to speak for them in a

democratic forum .. a Congress or a Parliament .. be allowed to usurp

the authority of those same representatives by voting in some form of

referendum each time the government is faced with difficult choices?

 

If this were to happen (it NEVER will) then the results of the vote will

merely reflect the leanings of the most vocal and charismatic leader ..

might have no bearing on reality or what is in the best interests of a

nation but rather which gladiator was better able to rabble rouse. We

have seen this since the beginning of media coverage entering homes ..

gimme a strong personality and we can lead a group against the pope or

the Parliament .. or any other issue they chose to concentrate on.

 

> without the agreement of the British people

> > (the latter being the most important in a democracy IMO)

> > Regards

> > Ann

>

> Ann -I wholeheartedly agree and I believe many, many Americans would

> agree as well- the protests and peace rallies are WAAAAAAAAAAAY

> undercovered by the corporate owned media...

> Michelle

 

I'm not sure which British (or American or whatever) people a leader

would want to get agreement from .. the ones making the most noise in

the streets maybe? If that were the case and both sides of an issue

knew that was the rules of the game then folks with loud voices would be

in popular demand and rarely unemployed. As for the Joe or Jill on the

street, I suspect most would want agreement from those who think as they

do .. few folks want agreement from those who differ - huh?

 

I am now watching the debate in the British Parliament .. I've seen some

dynamic and sincere speaches from Prime Minister Blair and others, and

they continue even now. Those representatives are concerned with two

things .. (1) making decisions that will be in the best interests of

their national security and (2) making decisions that will keep them in

good stead with constituents so they can be reelected which is in their

own personal interest. This is a norm in democratic type government.

 

If they allow themselves to be swayed by whichever TV channel elects to

focus on the pro or anti-war rallies, they will never be able to take a

position on any isuse .. but more importantly, they will be missing a

lot of reality .. we can see that even now because it was just announced

that the latest poll in the UK shows a definite softening of the publics

opposition to action against Saddam. That's not surprising .. its a

normal part of group dynamics. The British people (like the Americans)

are upset with the French position that forced Bush into the corner he

wanted to be in anyway .. and when options are limited and announced in

advance, most folks see the futility in protesting against the weather.

Its easier to make good choices when choices are limited.

 

I have been impressed by British Parliamentary procedure. I've watched

them before on TV but lately, there has been a lot more coverage on CNN

and Americans are becoming educated on how the British system works. I

believe that whether Tony Blair stays in power or not, the Brits can be

proud that there are MANY other good folks in the wings who can take the

reigns .. very impressive a lot of those folks .. on both sides.

 

In any case .. regardless of how it goes down in the UK .. the course of

action in the US has been determined. I stayed up all night watching

the events .. President Bush's speech came on a 3 in the morning here.

Later, I proudly watched Democrats who had opposed action in Iraq state

that they had been outvoted and it was now time to commit themselves to

support the nation, the Congressional majority, the final decision of

the President of the United States and the American Armed Forces. I'm

thinking we will see the same thing happen in the UK .. not just in the

Parliament but also with Joe and Jill on the street.

 

The proof will be in the pudding and the pudding is in the oven now.

Beginning in the next 36 hours or LESS action will begin. Those who

make decisions one way or the other, inside or outside of the halls of

government, will have sufficient opportunity to play Monday morning

quarterback with the decisions of others .. and they can expect others

to do the same for them.

 

As for our elected representatives .. we can't fire them on a daily

basis and we can't second guess them in every instance. We can replace

them with elections but we can't expect them to bend, twist, shift and

rotate according to the focus of the media or the will of those who are

organized, have the loudest voices and lead the largest number of sheep

or people into the streets in protest or support of the tough decisions

they are making in a different forum.

 

We agree to give our permission to those elected officials to represent

us .. they have our permission. Whether we like their decisions or not

is a matter we decide when they come up for reelection. The option to

that is coup after coup .. and I've seen that a few times too. I think

I prefer the British and American systems. ;-p

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch