It's Not The Candidates, It's The System
I was all ready to give the gasface to Michael Rubin and Scott Carpenter’s op-ed about the Iraqi provincial elections, but I actually think it deserves a serious response. In essence, they’re arguing that the provincial elections present a chance to hit the reset button on Iraqi politics. And, you know, I suppose, but it’s not likely. They fall victim to a classic imperial mistake: presuming that the devil you don’t know is preferable to the devil you do.
At the local level, however, there is real opportunity. Before the 2005 elections, one poll showed that only 3 percent of Iraqis viewed political parties favorably. As ordinary people have been victimized by corruption, abuses of power and party militias, Iraqis say the popularity of political parties and party bosses has fallen even further. Many Shiites, for example, say that they will no longer vote for a unified sectarian list. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani recognizes the trend and will probably not demand sectarian solidarity in local elections. In Anbar, local elections enable the Iraqis there to solidify the past year’s gains. For the emergent leadership of the Awakening Council, who earned their credentials on the battlefield against al-Qaeda affiliates, provincial elections mean real representation, whether or not Iraq’s Shiite leadership likes it.
Note the million hidden premises here. Most notably, where’s the evidence that the new crop of potential province-bred leaders will be any less corrupt or intransigent or parochial than the current one? Abdul Sattar al-Rashawi was a highway bandit. Counterinsurgents openly refer to the Sons of Iraq and tribal leaders as “warlords.” I’m not making an argument for not having the elections — Nouri al-Maliki seems to need little help there — just for a realistic assessment of what they’ll yield.
Also, would it kill them to consider that the problems with Iraq’s politics are systemic, and don’t reduce to Good Guys and Bad Guys?
Comments:
Posted 06/10/2008 12:36pm with
“Also, would it kill them to consider that the problems with Iraq’s politics are systemic, and don’t reduce to Good Guys and Bad Guys?”
Spencer!!! Stop it! You’re being a moral relativist!!!
Posted 06/10/2008 08:09pm with
You did not mention the point of their article. The point is not that a new group will be much better than the old group, though that might have been a good argument (why else have elections?).
Their point was that the electoral system matters. Voting for a party list leads to less accountability than does election from districts.
Probably there are arguments against this but you didn’t make them.
Posted 06/15/2008 05:41pm with
Are you aware of McCain’s 3R program for the economy?
It rocks! So far, I have seen no better since Teddy Rossevelt and even then, I never saw it, but only read about it.
Progressive Candidate John McCain comes through for America with his 3R economic plan. In the aura of Theodore Roosevelt, McCain’s plan just makes sense.
1. RETHINK: America must rethink the global views on what America is capable of in our current state of technology, engineering and the demands that face the world.
“RETHINK” in terms of re-action means to set forth this plan.
Most Americans know where the USA falls short in the ways of manufacturing and valuable jobs.
It’s time to meet the change of global demands with Made in USA quality and a new American workforce. Oddly enough, the framework is ready and waiting for this plan and active participation. The Progressive attitude of John McCain to get things done will resurrect America.
2. REFORM: America must rise to these demands and compete aggressively in a global economy. We must demand higher quality products and less restricted trade routes for Made in USA components.
“RE-FORM” is simple to comprehend as through John McCain’s Progressive attitudes, the USA will reform our manufacturing and hit it full steam ahead!
Made in USA has always meant highest quality products at moderate prices. The difference today is, we save loose change with Imported Chinese junk products, but few high paying jobs exist to do anything except buy the cheaper foreign-made products.
3. REINVENT: America and Americans must reinvent themselves to reach and maintain these standards and by sheer American ingenuity, control the world’s marketplace in the competitive manner, as we have always been proud to rule. Can you hear Theodore Roosevelt shouting this?
“RE-INVENT” is the exciting part of McCain’s 3R plan.
Americans in need of a future and without the desire, funding or free time to spend 2 to 8 years in college can go back to a re-invented manufacturing education. McCain’s formula allows these new students, young and old, to be paid a moderate paycheck while learning their new skills and leadership roles in hands on classrooms! Without costing taxpayers or the US government additional funds, we can literally change the face of America and the world.
Learning the skills required in order to become the American driving force behind new USA manufacturing boom, many Americans will also gain the skills to become the CEOs and leaders of their own USA Mfg arenas. Leading a group of people who love their new lifestyle is not difficult and Americans have been proving American ingenuity and leadership since Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive Republican era.
Initial estimates of 1 in 5 students will go on to begin his or her own company and drive even more Americans into a viable lifestyle with real jobs, real benefits and a retirement to look forward to. Many students will combine forces and create successful joint ventures.
America has the means to follow through with John McCain’s 3R plan, ready and in place across the USA. The buildings we need sit vacant for the most part. America has millions of people screaming for new and improved jobs.
Senator McCain has provided the new guard for Social Security, the promise of retirement and the dreams that can be realized by Americans who would otherwise be lost or at the mercy of a dying workforce. This is the new workforce for American’s future.
By assuming leases on abandoned stores and factories across America with MC-3R schools and mini-manufacturing training centers, the USA made products can be sold and support the stores. Building owners write off the loss in taxes over a few years!
Although the thousands of new businesses manufacturing USA Made products is exciting enough, the real excitement comes from the massive amount of additional jobs that will be created to provide the new housing, new buildings, new parks, shopping, grocery stores, schools, government outlets and so much more.
The Key PROBLEM with the housing slump and the huge crude oil buy-out is not from greedy developers or greedy oil companies, but from the desire to locate and invest in the era’s best investments. Housing was #1 until the investment funds were pulled and crude oil took its place as a commodity. McCain will get us out of the mess that threatens the world’s economy.
These three R’s will be accomplished by the McCain express and through wealthy American entrepreneurs who were once able to invest in America’s manufacturing capabilities but have since fallen into investments that have caused catastrophic world economy failure.
McCain’s Progressive nature embodies Theodore Roosevelt more than any other US presidential candidate in history since.
We need John McCain to lead our nation.