Pixelated Semantics

A schizotypical inventory

Normal perversions

Showing a typical disregard for the definition of "hypocrisy", GW Bush today presumes to lecture Putin on democracy:

"Yet democracies have certain things in common; they have a rule of law, and protection of minorities, a free press, and a viable political opposition."

A brief look at America's ideal of the "rule of law" shows it to be eviscerated by their Supreme Court's finding that they are conducting illegal indefinite detentions, interrogations, and military trials. Their minorities enjoy obstacles to voting and becoming citizens as well as to health care and welfare, not to mention ongoing demonisation or vilification by the media. Their press may be partially "free" but the parts under corporate control certainly reflect only a very conservative minority view and stifle comment outside those parameters (see "Outfoxed" for examples) - and Murdoch, CNN, and Co are currently running a vilification campaign against blogs and alternative news media that present other views. A "viable political opposition" is not Kerry and the Democrats, following the recent Presidential election that point was made abundantly clear by Kerry's curiously meek acceptance of what may well have been another stolen election. And one could make much the same points in the Australian context without any difficulty, by the way. It's one thing to beat one's chest about democratic virtues, but until and unless those virtues are visibly embedded in one's own political system, these notions are simply fodder for the word-mills lacking real substance or meaning.

Like Man of Steel's pronouncements in the last 24 hours on the increase in Aussie troop numbers in Irak. To wit:

"I don't think it is at all likely that we will send any more people, but I am not going to get into this business of giving absolute guarantees and having everything I say on it analysed in the future."

And:

"As far as sending more is concerned, I think that is highly unlikely but I cannot, and will not, give a categorical guarantee that under no circumstances will any further people be sent. I am simply unwilling to do that, not because I think it is likely or I think it is in contemplation, but I don't want to be in the ridiculous position if we did have to do something, of people then turning around and saying 'oh you have broken a promise' et cetera."

In other words, our Prime Minister feels that he is no longer accountable in any way for any statement he makes: it's "ridiculous" to expect him to uphold a commitment, he doesn't want his statements analysed in future, and certainly does not want to be held to his word by the population or even parliament he should be representing. So presumably "democracy" here means one accepts that nothing Man of Steel says is of value or substance, and one accepts that he is not accountable to anybody in particular. Perversion of language, perversion of democratic standards, just a normal day in politics.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 10:44 am ::