Well it was nice to think (for a few minutes) that our President was on the Front lines of liberty. But, nevermind, he isn't. Read this Editorial: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33958-2005Jan24.html. But we can be. We can start by supporting and encouraging democrats where-ever we can find them.
First let us all support the Chinese in their efforts to laud a symbolically great man -- Zhao Yiyang -- He died recently. But in the Tienamin times he was the only leader of the Communist party who had the bravery to suggest that the people in the square were only asking for something that China's people deserve: Republican Government. You know, elections, elected officials rather than appointed ones, the ability to depose corrupt officials rather than get arrested for noticing their corruption; that sort of thing? That is why the Communist party is trying to bury the guy quietly. The Chinese know how to fight with symbols and are pushing for a bit of pomp and ceremony. They are really using this as a chance to memorialize democracy.
And there are a lot of other things we can do.
Even within the Republican Party. Not all Republicans are out to cheat in the elections and disenfranchise the electorate. Not all of them are determined to dismantle the regulatory state and make it easier for Businesses to steal from us: Just their cadre of ambitious job seekers and the people who work for them. Even the President can be a Democrat when he feels like it.
And of course, the carrot and the stick are necessary with the big Elephant. The Democrats need to remind the Republicans -- and the country -- of the incompetance of their officials and this administration. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36530-2005Jan25.html
">And Barbara Boxer made a good start with her long debate about the Rice Nomination. Another thing would be to encourage our local and Federal prosecutors to do their job and investigate corruption in high places (Republican and Democrat) starting with Tom DeLay. Texas is already doing this. A little help from the FBI would be nice. Law enforcement shouldn't be paralyzed by fear. But then again, I should be afraid myself.
And of course if we really want liberty, we should mind our behavior abroad and at home. There is no place in our system for torturing prisoners and keeping them locked up without charging them with something. I say this even though I hold no particular sympathy for the ones among them who are terrorists and potential terrorists -- but because they are human beings.
Meanwhile the Government is continuing to use brutal and violent methods on it's "detainees" without granting them the right to confront evidence or to have a trial.
Posted by: Chris at January 28, 2005 07:37 AM