Today's Democracy

Today’s Democracy – In A Nutshell

The United States is fighting for democracy around the globe. It is a catch cry of the US intended to signal to the world that they are on the side of Good in the age old war between Good and Evil. On the face of it, the cause is a just one. Democracy, the right of the people to have a say in their government and their future, is a grand goal to aim for. The definition of Democracy however, is becoming blurred - painted in so many shades of grey that we now struggle to understand its true meaning.

Two elections took place recently that highlight the greyness of Democracy today - Ukraine and Syria.

Democracy Ukraine

Poroshenko has won the Ukraine election held amid fighting, rebellion and civil unrest. He won with around 55% of the vote.

The Central Election Commission of Ukraine reports that around 60% of eligible voters participated in the Ukraine election.

US Secretary of State, John Kerry congratulated the people of Ukraine for their elections although he commented that, "The security situation and outright armed intimidation by separatist groups prevented some voters in two of Ukraine's regions in the east from participating in the polling, while voting was also prevented in occupied Crimea."

The US has now pledged another $48M in aid to Ukraine. This will help support the move of Ukraine's integration into the EU and away from its alliances with Russia. The new aid package follows the $1 billion loan guarantee, $50 million crisis-response package, and $23 million in security assistance. Thus, the overall US aid to Ukraine this year exceeds $184 million.

Democracy Syria

Assad has won the Syrian election held amid fighting, rebellion and civil unrest. He won with over 88% of the vote.

The head of Syria’s Supreme Constitutional Court, said that over 70% of all eligible Syrians participated in the election.

US Secretary of State, John Kerry has denounced the election saying that a fair election is impossible while there is unrest in the country. Calling al-Assad’s election victory a “non-election,” Kerry said that residents in many parts of the country didn’t vote since they remain under rebel control and that the vote was “meaningless” and furthermore, the election result wouldn’t change the current U.S. policy against Assad.

Washington is now supplying Syrian rebels (those fighting against the elected leader) with both “lethal and non-lethal” aid, according to National Security Adviser Susan Rice, confirming the longstanding suspicion that the Obama administration is arming anti-Assad forces. Rice also emphasised Washington’s desire to play a bigger role in the Syrian conflict by getting Congress approval for more assistance to the rebels in the war that has been ongoing for three years and claimed upward of 160,000 lives.

Democracy has now been reduced to a catchy slogan to be used to justify the US mission of global control - a Call To Arms to be shouted out loudly and frequently to garner support for its actions. The meaning of the word Democracy is as fuzzy now as the word Patriot.

Apparently some versions of democracy are good and others are bad. Thank goodness we can rely on John Kerry to let us know which is which.