Better Democracy: China or US

As Winston Churchill said about democracy: "The worst political system yet devised, except for all the others".

Next week in Beijing, 2,200 delegates of the Communist Party will elect the members of the Politburo, a strategic avenue for future leaders of the next greatest power on earth.

Still, 2,195 more than the five judges who selected George W. Bush in 2000. We are paying a heavy price for the poor judgment of those five Supreme (?) deciders.

Still, 2,195 more than the five presidential candidates who can afford to raise $50 million or more to win the nomination for the Republicans and Democrats.

We have 200 million eligible voters (only half of them bother to vote) who must choose between two persons, already selected by lobbyists, fund raisers, pressure groups, etc., and, of course, the media.

We assume that the 2,200 Chinese delegates have a certain intelligence having been selected among hundreds of millions people or having succeeded to get through the numerous channels.

So, one question. Who is having the best democracy? A leader selected among 2,200 intelligent members or 100 million mostly uninformed voters choosing between two billionaire candidates?

Recently, Evo Morales, president of Bolivia, was a guest of Jon Stewart: "Your story is remarkable. How does a farmer, a poor farmer with a high school education become the first indigenous president of Bolivia? It's an amazing journey,” Stewart asked.

“We all have rights, as I understand it,” said Morales, an Aymara Indian. “Professionals and intellectuals are not the only ones who can be presidents,” he said. “Indigenous people can also be president.”

“In Bolivia,” Stewart deadpanned, leaning forward conspiratorially. “In America, it's a little rigged.”

That's real democracy. Perhaps, we should stop promoting democracy abroad, and start learning how to count votes, at home. The real world does not listen to us, anymore. And our elected representatives do not listen to the majority, but prefer to please the few.

It is more than time to stop wasting hundreds of million dollars to promote democracy in Cuba, as an example, especially when the funds of taxpayers are wasted in childish propaganda, for the exclusive benefits of 1/3 of 1% of the population. We are paying a heavy price ($700 billion, so far), for such irresponsible electoral influence, under the supervision of the other Bush.

The Facilitator