Article

2004-02-19

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Posted by Jarhead 2004-02-19 7:34:26 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The obvious: Yes, let's hold elections sometime. But, until then the Governing Council should continue to govern. We should add a few more ~~crooks~~ members.

The caucus idea has little support among Iraqis who are currently prospering from graft and corruption, and little support from Iraqis who stand to gain control in a straight democratic vote by being in the majority. On the other hand, caucuses (democracy from the ground up) probably have a lot of support among the ordinary Iraqis who would actually have a say in their government for a change.

Posted by Chuck Simmins 2004-2-19 10:01:51 AM|| [http://blog.simmins.org] 2004-2-19 10:01:51 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Easier to corrupt also. Instead of Iraqis voting directly who will represent them, they'll need to vote on people who'll then vote themselves on their leaders.

So, rather than the head candidates needing to sway the entirety of their nation, they'll only needs to sway/bribe/threaten with boomings a much narrower selection of people.

Ah, well... Somehow I feel that the US is trying to find complicated counter-productive answers that feel undemocratic, when a few simpler guidelines to the point of "absolute separation of church and state" would have been much more efficient in practice and their motivations easier understood -- and supported.

Posted by Aris Katsaris 2004-2-19 11:30:08 AM|| 2004-2-19 11:30:08 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 I actually agree with Aris (hey, careful with that feather!).

I'd prefer that we write the new Iraqi constitution and hand it to them, much as we did for Japan. We smile and say "here it is, and you're gonna live by it or else". We put in all the necessary items: respect for religious freedom, womens' rights, protections for individual liberties, etc. And once that's done we can help them with an election.

Constitution first, elections second. Simple.

Posted by Steve White 2004-2-19 1:30:01 PM|| 2004-2-19 1:30:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I think that constitution should begin by words like
"We, the people of the Iraki states in order to bring a most perfect union"

Posted by JFM 2004-2-19 1:49:41 PM|| 2004-2-19 1:49:41 PM|| Front Page Top

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