How to promote Democracy (1)

Democracy is not for everyone, everywhere, at anytime. Winston Churchill said about democracy: "The worst political system yet devised, except for all the others".

Someone else wrote: "Dictatorship could be the best system. The problem is to find a good permanent dictator"

Like Respect (see our previous article), we can not imposed a democratic system on people. We can not sell it either. In several countries, the access to education, health system, culture, security, family and social values, are more important than the right to vote.

Democracy should not be done overnight; it needs an adequate and timely transition. A serious and sincere religious conversion requires time and exchange of thoughts, with examples.

According to several philosophers/thinkers of ancient Greece, a well-managed nation is our greatest safeguard. When the State is in healthy condition, all things prosper. When it is corrupt, all things go to ruin. Welfare of the Nation and welfare of the People, were inseparable.

In a real democracy, we assist to a free exchange of obligations between the citizens and the State. The State helps to support the citizens; the citizens help to support the State.

Several so-called democratic countries would seriously fail on that assumption, and should surely not lecture other governments.

Ideals of justice and equality for everyone, are a too important task to be left to politicians. It can only be achieved through ordinary people. The laws should be made collectively, not by small groups protecting their own interests.

A good dictator or totalitarian leader or military ruler, understand the need to protect the rights of minorities, and assure them a fair treatment. Not all democratic leaders have yet applied this basic principle of justice, or are simply not interested.

Democracy should be in the hands of the many, not of the few; the power should be shared by all the people, not just the affluent (either by money, religion, contacts). If not, we risk having a democratic dictator using the democratic rules and weaknesses, for governing to the benefits of his entourage.

It is undemocratic to promote aspects that appeal to a certain groups, while resenting other rules which restraint the said groups. Democracy is more than a form of government. It is a kind of society, selected or endured by a
majority....voters or not.

What are the real benefits in having millions of ignorant voters? Are we promoting the cause of democracy when leaders are selected according to the best advertising or negative campaign? When laws are made by pressure from lobbyists? When votes are not counted? Is it so hard to understand and realize that, perhaps, perhaps, well educated citizens from other countries, are not so impressed?

Robert Barro, economist at Harvard University, believes that the key contributions a government can make, toward economic growth are: education + healthcare + birth control + elimination of non-productive government expenditures + enforcing the rule of law + keeping a low inflation.

We all know (or should know) the requirements for prosperity: economic freedom and property rights.

Property Rights provide a security and reward for hard work, or previous achievements. Economic Freedom reduces the need of government intervention, lowers the cost of social services, gives more power and independence to a larger segment of the population.

Economic Freedom creates a series of political freedoms......which become the base of democracy, a better democracy, a real democracy for all the people, not the few.

A good dictator will understand the requirement to improve the needs of the majority. A good leader in a democratic system must also apply this basic rule, if not, he will be voted out....eventually.

Next week, in our part 2 of How to promote Democracy: "Let's be Serious and Smart with Cuba & Latin America. How can we afford wasting almost $100 million a year for a low-class propaganda, antagonize 500 million Latino Americans, and have the world laughing at us?" Enough is enough.

The Facilitator.

N.B. Our thanks to New York Times for publishing an example with: "Don't Force Democracy in Burma", as we were ending this article. I guess a great book to read: "The River of Lost Footsteps: History of Burma" by Thant Myint-U, the author.

Respect must be Earned

No longer does Respect flow vertically, from the poorer to the richer, from the weaker to the stronger. It is now spreads horizontally, throughout the world, as reported in a monthly bulletin, published a few years ago by Royal Bank of Canada.

Respect cannot be purchased, demanded, imposed or forced to someone or a society. It can only be earned. If we expect other nations and their leaders to respect us, we must start to respect them. This will never be achieved by ignorance and arrogance.

We might not agree with everyone, we might even hate someone, but, we will always respect someone who is competent, honest, and responsible.

Self-respect begets the respect of others in a society. If there is a general lack of respect for the political and social system, it should be kept in mind that, as citizens, we are the system. We are the people.

As said by Pogo, a comic character: " We have seen the enemy, and he is....us "

According to the philosopher John Rawls, shame is the guardian of respect. If a person or a group of persons or a society as a whole, have no qualms from their mistakes, injustice, mismanagement, insults, lies, arrogance, etc., we should not be surprised that other members of the said society or other nations, ignore their manners or politeness.

As Edward Gibbon pointed out in his "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", the Roman Empire began to crumble when its leaders forfeited the esteem of the citizenry.

We can not develop an Efficient Foreign Policy, if we do not inspire Trust and Credibility. We might lose Europe, Asia and Middle East, but we can not afford to lose Latin America. Never too late....but, time is running short. China knows best, so far.

Without honour, we have no value. Future articles will propose specific projects for "Being Smarter with Latin America".

The Facilitator.

The Mistake of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy

Revolutions occur with a reason. Usually, they do not succeed, or last, if not supported by a large segment of the population. Before the arrival of Fidel Castro, the regime Batista did nothing for the overall interests of Cubans.

Eight years after he left office, President Harry Truman told his biographer and interviewer, Merle Miller, what he would have done with Castro.

"If I had been President, when Castro came to power, I'd have picked up the phone and called him direct in Havana. I wouldn't have gone through protocol or anything like that...and I'd have said: Fidel, this is Harry Truman in Washington, and I'd like to have you come up here, and have a little talk."

"He would have come to the White House, and I would have said: Fidel, it looks to me you've had a pretty good revolution down there, and it's been a long time coming.
Now, you're going to need help, and there's only two places you can go to get it."

"One's right here, and the other - well, we both know where the other place is. Now, just you tell me what you need, and I'll see that you get it."

The whole world knows that Fidel Castro received a hero's welcome at the United Nations, but was chilled by Vice President Richard Nixon.

Nikita Khruschev could not have expected a better and timely opportunity: a communist seed in the Americas. Amazing to remember that Vice President Nixon was anxious to visit communist China, but ignore Cuba, which, at the time, was not a communist state.

We can wonder who was creating or encouraging the development of communist regimes?

Future articles

* the same Mistake by the last eight Presidents
* is Cuba a communist country?
* the real cost of the embargo with Cuba
* who is the real loser
* first three proposals for a better US image in Latin America
* how to win the mind and hearts of Cubans and Latin American citizens
* how to have them trust the Americans
* can we afford to antagonize a market of 600 million consumers
* a choice to make,very soon: more enemies or more friends at our door


N.B. We would be pleased to publish any interesting suggestions (about one page).
You can use your name or a pen name

Being Smart with Cuba

Facts:
* The Americas provide a market of 900 million people, more than half living in Latin American countries.
* Recently, New York Times published more than 700 letters, a great, great majority of the readers being favourable to Fidel Castro, and/or blaming the US Administration for the poor relationship.
* The whole world knows that the embargo with Cuba is counter-productive. Because of it, Cuba flirted with the Soviet Union, forty years ago. Now, Cuba is sliding into the hands of Venezuela and China.

Comments:
It is more than time for the United States to show real Cubans the advantages in establishing a willing long lasting relationship with the Americans. For doing so, no lecture, no invasion, no arrogance, no interference, no active role in their future.

If the White House can afford $80 million to lecture Cubans, and create more enemies, perhaps the US Administration should allocate a similar amount for contributing to the real needs of real Cubans, and create more friends.

We firmly believe in the urgency in erecting a strategic presence in Cuba. The time is now, before it becomes too late. We do not want more enemies at our door. It is time to be smart with Cuba and Latin America.

Proposals:
We are presently in touch with several professionals from various fields (business, university, social groups, representatives of certain institutional, etc.), willing to make a contribution, a positive difference in improving the future US image in Latin America.

We are looking to erect specific ideas and projects, for creating friends, not enemies, with a tentative nonpartisan approach, and support from both, Democrats and Republicans.

The said proposals, combined with this new strategy will enhance the US image in Latin America, and facilitate various relationships with important Latin American countries, companies, local authorities, and different other groups. A great asset for our so-called "foreign policy".

"The-Liaison" will appear, once a week. We welcome ideas, specific projects, and suggestions how to implement them. We will disregard political discussions. One billion people in the Americas. It is time to be smart. And we must start with Cuba, in establishing a strategic base, to the benefits of future Americans and Cubans.

The Facilitator.

Readers from New York Times

The Readers Write..

Subsequent to the illness of Fidel Castro, the international television networks and newspapers have reported and commented about the street celebrations in Miami. Outside the United States, the perception was simply a reflection on the American attitude, as a whole. It is unfortunate that the behaviour of one third of one percent of the population, determines the opinion of foreigners about our whole country..

Hopefully, the international coverage of New York Times will establish a more accurate picture of the real Americans. A great majority of the 741 letters received by New York Times have expressed a favourable opinion about Fidel Castro and/or blamed the US administrations for the poor relationship between two close countries.

You can read those comments/opinions at:
news.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=21%23respond

We will be pleased to read your own comments, and publish them, with your identification or pen name.

The Facilitator