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| Wednesday, 14 January 2004 |
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How America's democracy works by Afreeha Jawad With the Sword of Damocles seen as hanging over one of man's oldest political constructs - democracy - the pronouncement of Pakistan's scholar - poet Allama Iqbal is all the more significant. "Democracy is a veiled form of autocracy," he said.
The communist and dictatorial principles overtly restrict individual freedom and to that extent is commendation worthy whatever disagreement we may have over its ideologies. However, democracy's subtle manipulation operative at highly discreet levels towards class and group interest strikes commonality with these opposing systems of governance in that individual freedom is controlled and curtailed almost unconsciously through, among other things, the most powerful communication tool - the media. Nevertheless the failure of all systems towards public good is evidenced. Perhaps it could be argued that it's not the system per se but the men in it which made it dysfunctional. Viewing American elections against this backdrop is interesting. According to Professor Alan Keenan of the USA who spoke on the forthcoming American election at SEDEC last week, only 20-25 per cent out of America's voting population exercise their franchise. "How come then, the American state be representative of its people?" one may ask. The cynicism and skepticism with which ordinary Americans view their politicians is not the country's sole preserve which brings to this writer's mind the prevailing status quo in other countries as well. The extremely low levels of politicians' public image is both international phenomena and public knowledge. The wide disparity in what they profess and practise is common knowledge. That the international pecking order is an assembly of bourgeois elitism interested mainly on self-propagation using 'service' as a facade and presented as a global network of nation states working towards the existence of that order with least concern towards public good is apparent and consolidated as well in the erosion of world public faith in their respective governments. The state is cracking, democracy itself staggers. American politics - so heavily dominated by money is decided by the affluent - certainly not solely American 'exclusiveness' - the difference being the Bush administration quite blatantly takes to corporate personnel to be part of that set up. The gamut of cartels - a conglomeration of pecuniary giants operative at every American election is most conspicuous - a sort of race horse carnival where money stinks and decides the winner - the world's most powerful man. It is also this same vulgar manner - not so very open with which acolyte nation states conduct elections to reach the power apex - with the US itself casting a watchful eye - so very vigilant in who's who is installed where. The Bush administration in America stands out as a regime beholden to American corporate and financial interest. The 2001/2002 Congress law imposed limits on individuals, corporations and political interests and restrictions on monetary contributions. The colossal amount spent on high cost media advertisements - a powerful institutional mechanism for fierce election campaigning has also made Americans overwhelmingly disgusted. Making matters worse is the US Supreme Court order that prevents laws which impose money cuts. Money - certainly the protagonist in American power game is considered a form of speech. A vehement upholder of speech as freedom of expression, the American legal mechanism treats money and its free flow as a parallel form of expression. When parity of status is given to speech and money, the violation of the principles of justice and truth should not be anyone's surprise. Thus, this writer perceived how the blending of legislative, executive and judicial powers well fortified in its attempt to uphold power strongholds both in American politics and business. Similar manoeuvring in other nation states has put to test state credibility - increasingly diminishing. Little wonder then the current global chaos - of social issues - of poverty, drugs, disease, hunger, terrorism and the like with the US itself revealing high rates of societal chaos and low social development. While sowing seeds of dissension and differentiation, the US in the same vein cries out on human rights. Widespread research is encouraged. Scholars felicitated. Freedom of thought and movement virtually blown out of power lungs. Yet, what 'attracts' this writer most is, amidst all this it is the American power hold that calls the shots - an uncompromising situation. The recent emergence of evangelical groups cements the efforts of George Bush. Opposing him is Howard Dean - a liberal - all too angry with Bush and his 'bunch'. But then, in the American eye a liberal is not popular. Yet one can never know. Dean's physical finesse - a reflection of his mind - is a strong contending force as well to Bush. A former governor rooted in a US agricultural state expresses strong opposition to Bush's Iraq bombardment. His tax cuts facilitating the rich and pressing socio-economic issues have been Dean's concern areas. The ultra-nationalist Bush, enveloped as always is the case with politicians across the world stage with accentuated jingoism, will be Dean's hurdle. The average young and middle-aged Americans - approximately 30-40 million - particularly the jobless ones have no health coverage which could be a plus mark for Dean who has energised the poor voter base. As far as elections go, tradition, conservatism, jingoism and ultra-nationalist revelations are comfortable re-enforcement for those that want victory. Bush therefore is no exception. But then such extremist mental states are a deterrent to world peace and stability. Most saddening is American ignorance of the world outside - a trained ignorance that cushions politicians' agendas. In such situation, consensus building is all the more easy which is why many hardliners reportedly with Bush succeed in what they do. They even violated international law in the US-led alliance against Iraq. As long as Americans are ready to get killed, it will be no problem for Bush. However, there is anxiety over erosion of liberties - a plus point for Dean. Most Americans lack knowledge among other things - on Islam - Saudi and its politics. They learn it within a fear paradigm, outside a critical framework. Sometimes critics themselves are ignorant which is why American policy awakening among Americans is important, according to Allan. But then that would be anathema to Bush and his cronies. In terms of social inequality, it's not just only the contrasting rich/poor dichotomy but the shrinking as well of the American middle class. Bush's tax cuts have resulted in bringing further peril on this group with no funds to tackle social issues. Furthermore, large scale weapons dealers close to Bush pushed him into gun turning on Iraq. Using the weapons of mass destruction facade, this was also an attempt on the part of the Bush camp to revive his fallen image arising out of twin tower damage not to forget as well to arrest and re-strengthen fear struck American minds, gripped with an overwhelmingly vulnerable feeling. The US attitude of world policing is also an attempt towards remaining at super power zenith. All this along with the us/them dichotomy were the war's contributory factors. The free oil flow on which American military hegemony depends was not the sole cause. Widening the Jewish interest is the Bush regime. The Republicans in fact are better positioned to change Israeli behaviour unlike the Democrats. If installed in power, they (the Democrats) will support international tribunals and will adopt a multilateral international approach. The UN and other agencies will be given some role - not a dominant one while the US will continue on hegemonic control. All in all, in the forthcoming US elections decisive factors will be race, religion, feminist issues, women's rights, abortion, birth control, the American economy and the controversial war in Iraq. Many share this writer's view of a future US administration free of ambiguity with social good as central role, bereft of world hegemonic control as a move in the direction of world peace. |
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