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Where is the USA on this chart? Are we too busy "exporting" democracy, resulting in a shortage here at home? And hell... how come we didn't attack Saudi Arabia - they supposedly represented a big chunk of the people involved in 9/11 - and they're looking like they are in desperate need of some good 'ol fashion democracy....
The US ranks 17th.
Damn... this is like inventing a sport and then soon enough getting your ass kicked at it. I think America needs a refresher course in Democracy 101. Certainly many scumbag politicians do.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. The condition of having free and fair competitive elections, and satisfying related aspects of political freedom, is clearly the basic requirement of all definitions.
Sweden and Iceland don't have to DEFEND THE FREE WORLD. You have to break some toothpicks out there to DEFEND THE FREE WORLD.
Sadly, you're right. However, where is it written that the US is the world police? If we could only stick to our own Constitution, and mind our own business, I think we'd be at the top of the heap.
I would imagine the political participation issue held our score down. But I think this is a wonderful place to live, even with our flaws.
If you look at competing military countries, I would hate to be in Russia, and their secret police run government. Fortunately for the Russians, the ineptitude of these folks allows some freedom to still exist. Despite Putin's efforts to terminate the Gorbachev advancements, they are still minimally able to have some democracy.
Iran didn't make the "least" list, which is a little surprising to me. I guess the Ayatollah run government, even selecting who can run for office, is considered somewhat democratic.
Oops - just read the article itself, participation was the holdback, otherwise we did great!!!
I'm wasn't surprised to see the Scandinavian countries at the top however, a couple of questions come to mind:
- Do they deal with a mix (i.e. melting pot , mosaic - take your pick of terms) of cultures like Canada or the U.S.? If not, I feel it would be easier to govern when one culture overwhelmingly dominates
- How easy it to emmigrate to the higher ranked contries?
It will be interesting to see where Venezuela ranks in a few years.
Although right now it's sort of funny that "evil dictator-run totalitarian Venezuela" rates better than some of our awesome allies like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. I'm not saying things couldn't change, Hugo Chavez certainly wouldn't be the only person in the world to try to consolidate power in his office (I think we're already sort of familiar with that here, though...)
Although right now it's sort of funny that "evil dictator-run totalitarian Venezuela" rates better than some of our awesome allies like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. I'm not saying things couldn't change, Hugo Chavez certainly wouldn't be the only person in the world to try to consolidate power in his office (I think we're already sort of familiar with that here, though...)
If I had to bet money, by Feb '09 Bush will not be office but Chavez will be long after that.
If what he wants to change about governing Venezuela is want his poulation wants, that's all that counts.
In my post, I wasn't thinking about Pakistan or Saudi Arabia as there were no surprises there. Only Venezuela.
I wasn't thinking about the U.S President or the morality of our so-called allies, come to think of it, either.
Last edited by doc1; 09-04-2007 at 04:15 PM..
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