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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tejek who wrote (217333)	2/4/2005 9:11:27 AM
From: combjelly	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1571798

"Just because the word democratic is in the nation's name as with the German Democratic Republic does not mean its a democracy." You can pretty safely assume that if the word 'Democratic' is in the name, they probably aren't. And elections don't necessarily mean democracy. Iraq under Saddam regularly had elections. So did the GDR and the USSR...

To: tejek who wrote (217333)	2/5/2005 11:14:18 AM
From: SilentZ	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1571798

>No one said that the Iraqis shouldn't be free. We just don't want to pay for it in American lives and money. And I don't think I'd even go that far... I just don't want to be paying for it in American lives and money if I don't think we're on the right track to achieving it and I doubt whether we could achieve it. I have a problem with throwing American lives and money down a hole. -Z

To: tejek who wrote (217333)	2/9/2005 11:51:36 AM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1571798

Just because the word democratic is in the nation's name as with the German Democratic Republic does not mean its a democracy. I think there may be 20-30 democracies in a world with over 200 countries. You are correct that not many countries are democracies. For instance the United States of America is not a democracy; it is a republic. When you say that are you basing it on the inputs or the outputs? For instance France is a input democracy, but the output is anything but democratic, it is a socialist society. According to some sources there are about 60 democracies or republics. You are correct that not all are truly free. We could debate them one at a time. I believe that any increase in that number benefits all of humanity. If you cannot dream of a better world, then you are destined to live in one getting worse. No, I can only judge what's best for this country. Why do you think you know what's best for the Iraqis? Ted, you must be a better man than I. I can only opine about what I think is best for this country. Based on what you have posted, you cannot judge what is best for this country either. The Iraqi people have demonstrated that they earnestly desire what President Bush thought they would chose. There are some trying to prevent a free republic by violent means, and some trying to hijack it into a theocracy. The people of Iraq seem to want a democracy. I base that opinion on the actions of Iraqis. I guess you haven't heard. As I expected, that percentage turnout is starting to drop very quickly. And did you know that to show proof who they were when they went to vote, the Iraqis showed their UN food for oil cards. From the same program, you all are calling corrupt. It appears your expectations were wrong. They results were over 60% participation. The Sunnis were foolishly holding out for a dictatorship. While this pales to the 99% participation under Saddam, it is IMO very impressive. More so because voting was voluntary. The Iraqis deserve a huge congratulation for going from fear to boldly showing up at the polling places. The NeoLibs who feel they don't deserve to be free should hang their heads in shame. Why do you all need to twist everything we say? No one said that the Iraqis shouldn't be free. We just don't want to pay for it in American lives and money. The only twist there, was the twist of the knife you have inserted yourself. The NeoLibs / DemoLibs have consistently said: we have no business stopping the international support for terrorism; we should not support the yearning of Iraqis and others to be free; we should forge close ties with terrorist sponsor states, and send them foreign aid. Right now the only proposed government mandate that I know being discussed that will benefit society is fixing Social Security for a few more decades. Then we can move on to address MediCare (which will soon dwarf SS as a financial burden to taxpayers).