Tom Toles for May 10, 2016

We wanted to Police the World! Overwhelming, ain’t it?

It’s been very hard too understand how the USA can be regarded as a democracy, as viewed by us Foreigners.With strange, regionally controlled electoral systems and rather strange institutions such as “electoral colleges”, it’s quite bizarre enough until you hear of ballot booths being moved and reduced in number so that voters can’t vote within the time allowed.The World genuinely looks forward to the USA becoming a modern democracy where everyone can vote with equal value.

Ain’t nothin’ new under the sun. Once upon a time, good ol’ Uncle Joe Stalin, who seemed to know a thing or two about elections, said something to the effect that “It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” The Republicans, who are so very worried about voter fraud, clearly learned something from Uncle Joe.Then there is this story: It’s apocryphal, but it seems that about the same time some Texas (of course) politician one-upped Uncle Joe. He supposedly allowed that he really didn’t care how the people voted. All he wanted to do was choose the candidates.Lastly, it seems we may finally be learning from the rest of the world. In much of the world, and more and more in the US as well it seems, the idea of democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch.

Unfortunately our corporations exported all of our jobs.Do you want fries with that?

Not really a democracy, not exactly a republic, sort of an oligarchy, kind of socialist, a bit of a monarchy:.A demopubolsoctarchy?

You don’t get it Toles – it is Democracy when the people pick who they want.

Maybe you shouldn’t have armed everybody either.

Many voters around the world feel let down by the democratic system, and many lay the blame squarely at the feet of the political establishment. Our belief in the power of our vote is in a long term decline. Most people no longer even think it makes a difference which party is in power or who forms the government anymore. So we are seeing voters around the globe tearing down the political establishment. It will depend on what kind of populist parties can gain traction and what influence they have over government. This extend through out the US and beyond to other countries.

What do we export?

Weapons, of course. Arms. Lots and lots of them.Foreign ‘aid’.

the world’s Point One Percent Overlords decided the rest of us don’t need the illusion of democracy any more. # so it goes

Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman:Truly, Donald Trump knows nothing. He is more ignorant about policy than you can possibly imagine, even when you take into account the fact that he is more ignorant than you can possibly imagine.

Democracy is not necessarily the most efficient and effective form of government for every society. It requires so much more than simply holding an election. The public must be informed and engaged, and prepared to sacrifice for the common good. People must be prepared to discuss, disagree without being disagreeable, and compromise. There must be strong social institutions, including a strong and independent judiciary. There must be Rule of Law, not Rule BY Law. A history and tradition of participatory government is invaluable. George Washington was an exceptional man and role model. When he refused an offer to be named sovereign, then willingly turned over power and retired to private life after two terms, he set an example for all subsequent generations. I hope we as a people are not on the cusp of forgetting those lessons.

@The Wolf In Your MidstOr in the National. Enquirer!

All you need to know about Wal-Mart is in the book “The Wal-Mart Effect”, especially the chapter titled “The Man Who Said No to Wal-Mart”.You can put lipstick on a pig…