When you can't export democracy because you don't have it,then you export what you have, e.g. oligarchy or Wahhabism

Submitted by Ianus (Poland), Feb 17, 2012 at 16:07

M. Tovey wrote :

> Close; but only by forgetting that the 'democratic' principles that once were part of the founding light of America of an earlier age does one come to realize that the 'stars and stripes' were hijacked by 'principles' of another sort; or shall we say, lack of principles. It has become quite apparent that the veil of the leadership of America's past is torn and the people are now finding out that all is not as it seems. To make matters worse, the imposition of some that American blood was spilled for less than honorable reasons might have some legitimacy is all the more appalling. <

I agree that America has degenerated into a typical oligarchy that has succeeded in monopolizing wealth and income and thus power into few hands.The American oligarchy's success can be measured by the fact that 90% of income in the US is concentrated in the hands of 10% of the population leaving those 90% of citizens with 10% of income which roughly corresponds to a third world income distribution.Under such economic realities you can have no democracy.

The other reason why America stopped being a democracy is to be sought directly in her foreign policy and foreign lobbying. Prophetic are the words said by George Washington in his 1796 Farewell Address " ... a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation), facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation.

As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils. Such an attachment of a small or weak towards a great and powerful nation dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.

Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government."

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