Letters to the Editor
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Glass Houses
"Democracy depends not just on elections but on a rule of law, on stable institutions, on basic economic security for the population, and on checks and balances that forestall a tyranny of the majority. ... Bush is on the whole unwilling to invest sufficiently in these key institutions and practices abroad."
Considering Bush rose to power under the specter of questionable election results, it's only natural that he emphasize the importance of elections in democracy. As both recent and old events (NSA wiretapping, Iraqi prisoner abuse, Abramoff fallout, ENRON, and many others) indicate, the rule of law isn't exactly a strong point of this administration. Neither are the concepts of "checks and balances" (claiming absolute executive power for one) or "stable institutions" (turnover within institutions such as the CIA, FEMA, Homeland security, the EPA, and others).
In describing the requirements for democracy, Juan Cole has described exactly what the Bush administration would have us forget: people in glass houses should not throw stones. And I fear that America is quickly becoming a glass house. Not only is Bush "unwilling to invest sufficiently in these key institutions and practices abroad," but that same unwillingness is evident within his own country. What, may I ask, is the state of New Orleans? How are the Supreme Court nominations going? What about funding for higher-education student loans?
As long as the American people are focused on the Greater War On Terror (never mind exactly what that is), important issues like these are swept under the rug. In doing so, we weaken the foundation of this country in return for a short-term facade of strength and, perhaps, hubris.