Politics - Power

January 13, 2008

Missouri voted to allow stem cell research in 2006, but according to the New York Times no stem cell research is taking place in the state. Prolife lawmakers successfully managed to block all efforts. What notion of representation does that suggest?

California voted to legalize medical marijuana use several years ago. The US Attorney’s office moved in right away to prosecute providers of medical marijuana under federal laws. What notion of government does that suggest?

In the last congressional election, in 2006, the Republicans lost the majority in the House and Senate. President Bush responded by adopting a conciliatory tone, saying he’d work with the new majorities. He himself was elected with the barest majority in 2004 and said he had received a “mandate”—to do as he pleased? Apparently, if you receive 51% of the vote, you can ignore the remaining 49% of the people (depending on who’s counting), but if the balance goes a hair in the opposite direction, you have to make a nod in the direction of collaboration. What notion of democracy does all of that suggest?

Everybody criticizes Bush for his conduct of the war in Iraq. He ignores all critics and says that history will be kind to him. What notion of statesmanship does that suggest?

Power doesn’t need work under cover of darkness and secrecy these days. It’s just a fact of political life, universally acknowledged. All the rhetoric about freedom and democracy is just that. Worse. It’s propaganda.

Marijke Rijsberman

Thoughts? Let me know: marijke@interfacility.com