No more so then a struggling artist turned war hero becoming the Fuhrer, or a Christian orthodox seminarian becoming Communist dictator. What truly would have been completely implausible would have been a contest between Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich, two people with entirely different views on government.
Posted at 2008-01-30 20:57:49 [PermaLink]... Or a grocer's daughter becoming Prime Minister etc., etc... I'm not quite sure what you mean by the "What a country--and democracy" closing line. From my perspective the American primary election season has been a depressing harbinger of the future of American (and perhaps international) democracy. All the surviving "front-running" candidates from both parties lack substance or any real vision for the future beyond getting themselves elected. Obama is particularly odious, offering nothing more than a promise of "change" and his skin colour. Rodham-Clinton is not much better banking on her gender and personal ambition - totally out of touch with the needs of the average person. The soap-opera/reality TV flavour of the campaign thus far is appalling - this is not what is meant by democracy. This is a dumbed down popularity contest with no ideas and no indication of any meaningful, concrete attempt to grapple with a short-term future in which the US (and the world) appears to be entering an uncertain era of geopolitical and economic realignment.
Posted at 2008-01-30 23:47:10 [PermaLink]Perhaps ancient Athens had it right by allowing only property-owning citizens to vote. Robert Heinlen in "Starship Trooper" updated this concept by suggesting that only those who'd voluntarily performed military service or a difficult civilian equivalent should be granted the franchise. Elitist ? Sure, in a way. But someone please convince me that the current system is preferable.
Posted at 2008-01-31 00:30:46 [PermaLink]