Well, I think how seriously one takes this might be related to which side of the Birka one is on.
As far as democracy meaning people can make choices we disagree with, democracy is only as good as its respect for basic inherent human rights. Without that, democracy is just mob rule. Not that there's going to be any democracy in Iraq. It'll be the same puppet government until we leave followed by a civil war in which if we're lucky we get a modernist dictator along Saddam's lines or if we're unlucky we get an Islamist state.
Why do you assume a dictatotr is preferable to an Islamic state? I think if given a Rawlsian choice (i.e., not knowing where they end up in the structure), most Iraqis would prefer a state like Iran to one like Saddam's regime. (Both, almsot certainly, would be preferred to what they have now.)
I trust modernist dictators more than I do religious lunatics. One of the reasons I rested someone better than I might have during the cold war is I knew the people in the Soviet Union with their fingers on the button expected oblivion rather than paradise if it all blew up.
Also, as I said, it has a great deal to do with what side of the Birka you are on.
None of the third world dictators have destroyed large portions of NY either. The same can't be said of the unintentional Islamist creations of right wing US Presidents.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-07-15 01:02 pm (UTC)As far as democracy meaning people can make choices we disagree with, democracy is only as good as its respect for basic inherent human rights. Without that, democracy is just mob rule. Not that there's going to be any democracy in Iraq. It'll be the same puppet government until we leave followed by a civil war in which if we're lucky we get a modernist dictator along Saddam's lines or if we're unlucky we get an Islamist state.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-15 01:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-15 01:25 pm (UTC)Also, as I said, it has a great deal to do with what side of the Birka you are on.
None of the third world dictators have destroyed large portions of NY either. The same can't be said of the unintentional Islamist creations of right wing US Presidents.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-15 01:52 pm (UTC)