What do those in the Middle East think of Iraq Democracy?

[macmeal]

Another factor to consider is this--even in the highly unlikely event that the average "man in the street" in the middle east COULD be convinced of the advantages of democracy, those in charge of these countries would be terrified at the thought of opening themselves to the idea of sharing power with the "masses"--and with good reason. It would be as impractical, and as unthinkable to them, as an American school board agreeing to turn a junior high school into a "democracy", where the students determined school policy by voting on what they liked and disliked, including the hiring and firing of teachers.

[ontheroad]

Some societies do value, perhaps not the right word, authority more than others.

But for the most part, many people prefer to have someone think for them.

“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” ~ Einstein

[TnHilltopper]

Originally Posted by ontheroad

Perhaps you give the government too much credit.

I suspect that they are as devoid of curiosity, imagination and are as threatened as the populace.

Well you very well may be right, after all the forged Niger documents were "discovered" to be fraud and based on a college students dissertation from a few years back in two hours using nothing more than a google search. yikes!

I am reminded by a scene in Casablanca where the local authorities knew of underground illegal activities taking place but once the proprietor ticked someone off, the the authorities burst in with the bust... "Shocked I tell you, shocked!"

One of the reasons I am all for cutting a BUNCH of fat in the Federal government is simply its size makes it inefficient. The left hand not only doesn't know what the right hand is doing but in most cases don't even know it exist!

[ontheroad]

This is so true. In the government, whether it is federal, state, city or community has more fat than most corporations. More directors of nothing-in-particular than worker-bees, and too few worker-bees to make the system work. :

Originally Posted by TnHilltopper

One of the reasons I am all for cutting a BUNCH of fat in the Federal government is simply its size makes it inefficient. The left hand not only doesn't know what the right hand is doing but in most cases don't even know it exist!

[macmeal]

Originally Posted by ontheroad

Some societies do value, perhaps not the right word, authority more than others.

But for the most part, many people prefer to have someone think for them.

“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” ~ Einstein

You're certainly correct in inferring that the submission to, and acceptance of authority, does differ widely among cultures. In many ways we Americans have found ourselves positioned so far toward the "difficult" end of the spectrum, that in some ways it's caused us difficulties in reaching common ground. This has worked both for and against us, at different times in the past.