Power Plays
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
So on the radio this morning they were talking about the AUC, a right-wing paramilitary group that's been terrorizing outlying areas of Columbia. The radio spoke of civilian massacres, disappearances, and other terror tactics used to control the people.
If you look at my post before on the movie "Lord of War", there's a common theme of armed groups trying to extract power from the local populace by means of force. My question to you is this: what good does that do? I'm reminded of a quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony." While it's been said that many people in the world LIKE having someone tell them what to do, I'm a big fan of the old "representative government".
A republic or democracy has a lot going for it. We have a lot of freedoms, we (generally) don't have death squads coming around reinforcing their power by killing us, we (try to) have freedoms for all people and groups. I believe in the power of democracy and I believe in freedom. I ALSO believe that an unfair government should be ousted by whatever means necessary. (At this point I'd like to say "hi" to the FBI, who is reading this, I'm sure.)
I see no long term benefit to rule by force versus rule by choice. I see only pain for many, power for few, and a rule that will eventually fail and leave a country in shambles.
If you look at my post before on the movie "Lord of War", there's a common theme of armed groups trying to extract power from the local populace by means of force. My question to you is this: what good does that do? I'm reminded of a quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, "Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony." While it's been said that many people in the world LIKE having someone tell them what to do, I'm a big fan of the old "representative government".
A republic or democracy has a lot going for it. We have a lot of freedoms, we (generally) don't have death squads coming around reinforcing their power by killing us, we (try to) have freedoms for all people and groups. I believe in the power of democracy and I believe in freedom. I ALSO believe that an unfair government should be ousted by whatever means necessary. (At this point I'd like to say "hi" to the FBI, who is reading this, I'm sure.)
I see no long term benefit to rule by force versus rule by choice. I see only pain for many, power for few, and a rule that will eventually fail and leave a country in shambles.
posted by Burton at 8:23 AM
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