C'da, >Fake democracy means little, particularly when > power lies elsewhere, and the people have neither protection nor a real say in > ordering their lives.
Whether a democracy is fake or the real thing, depends on whom you ask. Ask Egypt's Mubarrak, or Jordan's Abdullah, and they will tell you that they have great democracies functioning. In fact, I have heard both of them say so and number of times. Now, ask people in the 'best' democracies in the world, and they will tell you that they do not. Many in the US will tell you that. Many Indians (specially some NRAs) and they will tell you India has no democracy at all. >a benevolent autocracy also could become unaccountable in a short period of time. Absolutely true. > Having said that, such an autocracy for a limited period of time might be > necessary for Assam to dig itself out of the mess it is in today, until the > defective or make believe one could be retooled, re-organized, reformed > to function effectively, bottom to top. Is it? This is like the Bushies saying that there must be a war (a 'just' war to be precise) so that there can be peace. So, what you are suggesting is that Assam go thru some sort of penance (agni porikha or test-by-fire) so that it can function properly? --Ram On 5/17/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > There may be a point here. Fake democracy means little, particularly when > power lies elsewhere, and the people have neither protection nor a real say in > ordering their lives. > > Unfortunately, just like make believe democracy without functioning > institutions to ensure accountability and transparency, a benevolent autocracy > also could become unaccountable in a short period of time. > > So it is not a reliable alternative to real democracy with real powers of the > people to order their lives, in freedom, even the it might be very tempting to > opt for it. > > Having said that, such an autocracy for a limited period of time might be > necessary for Assam to dig itself out of the mess it is in today, until the > defective or make believe one could be retooled, re-organized, reformed > to function effectively, bottom to top. > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Date: 2005/05/17 Tue PM 10:28:31 EDT > > To: Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu > > Subject: [Assam] Paternalistic government > > > > > > > > > In a state like Assam,where survival is constant struggle for most and where > the preservation of the sanctity of human life is a burning issue,would it be > inappropiate ( or far-fetched) to install a BENEVOLENT DICTATOR to take the > rein of state administration,who will be willing to ensure basic standard of > living for all? Would the people of Assam be unhappy with a paternalistic > government? > > What do you think? > > KJD > _______________________________________________ > Assam mailing list > Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > Mailing list FAQ: > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > To unsubscribe or change options: > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > > > _______________________________________________ > Assam mailing list > Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam > > Mailing list FAQ: > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html > To unsubscribe or change options: > http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam > > > _______________________________________________ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
