Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

I think that statement should be for capitalism.

In a democracy the people are sovereign. Enter George W. Bush with his plan to subvert the Republic, suddenly we're just along for the ride.

Sic semper tyrannis.

Aaron, the prospect of GWB not leaving at the end of his term is about as believable as Clinton's supposed plans to take over when his two terms were up. I hope that the next time the Democrats are in the White House the Republicans can do a better job at controlling the fever swamp speculation but you Democrats certainly aren't doing a good job at providing a better example.

funny, TM. i read Aaron's comment as GWB has behaved like a tyrant while in office, not that he was planning to stay...

Thanks Sean, you caught my meaning precisely. In my opinion a president who goes to war without just cause, a president who fabricates evidence in order to garner public support for an unjust war, that President has betrayed the Republic and broken the solemn oath he took when he was elected by the people. Such a man is a disgrace to himself and to America, and he has damaged the United States of America far more profoundly than Osama bin Laden or Al Qaeda ever could.

The death of every American in Iraq, including the 18 soldiers who have died over the last 24 hours, every one of those deaths is on George Bush's head, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis whose lives have been extinguished as the result of this failed foray into the Middle East. History will have the final judgment of George W. Bush, and if there is any justice left in the hearts of men, it will judge him harshly and without mercy.

(Back to the quote) While that may have been Fosdick's assertion, we can learn more about why democracy (and capitalism) work best from John Nash's game theory. Remember in "A Beautiful Mind" when he is inspired by a run-in at a bar? Nobody gets the big prize but we all get something. In democracy, nobody seizes power (tryranny) because we all have a little chunk of the power. In capitalism, nobody can have an illegal monopoly. The key is to prevent people from exercising their full potential to be jerks.