The world's oldest democracy has ceased to exist.

[Cyrano]

From 1789 to last night, we were the world's oldest democracy. Today, we are the world's most dangerous, well armed, banana republic. The dictator who holds power is unstable, ignorant and malicious. Those who control him have achieved the ultimate power they wanted, and the rest of us are so screwed, that even a post like this one can land me in an orange suit in Gitmo, or someplace I never heard of.

And if you reply to this post, and in some unfathomable way agree with what I've said, you can end up in the cell next to me.

Christ, were we arrogant. We were Americans. We held the high moral ground. We despised the dictators and torturers of the world. We were free, righteous, moral, and unquestionably always right no matter what we did to the "lesser" human beings of the planet.

So after having said so many times that "taking to the streets" would be useless and an act of suicide, I'm ready to take to the streets. The only reason I can't recommend that you and I do so, is because our dead bodies will accomplish nothing. Hell, the media wouldn't even report it.

Don't look to me for a suggestion of what we do next. I'm fresh out of resistance ideas.

As a devout agnostic, I don't believe in hell. But at this moment, I wish I could hold that belief. And that's because I want to apply for the job of shoveling coal and sulfur under the particular spot inhabited by the Democratic senators who voted for the hell they've helped create for us all.

[Subdivisions]

1. I think Greece has us beat by a couple thousand years...eom

[tocqueville]

2. the world oldest democracy/republic is Switzerland (as a nation)

and many towns and districts in Europê at that time had functioning Republics and democracies, specially in Italy. But it must be said that the US were the first liberal democracy with a constitution, slightly ahead of France. To the difference from France there were no restauration attempts that is to say reversals to other systems.

the comparison with Greece is only interesting for the system, since democracy there didn't apply to the majority of the population that were slaves. Only MALE CITIZENS in Antique Greece had the right to democracy.

[rman]

22. That was a different kind of democracy: only the rich got to vote

Contemporary democracy (or what has to pass for it) has its roots in the time if the Renaissance, when philosophers started to develop the idea of "self-governance" by means of elected representatives, where everybody got to vote.
The notion of self-governance - governance by for and of the people - is the radical opposite of what had been the norm in the centuries before the Renaissance: governance by a wealthy minority that had used its money and influence to appoint itself as the highest authority, and which more often than not ended up exploiting The People.

[HereSince1628]

3. The longest uninterrupted democracy is Iceland, isn't it?

Proof Cold weather, hot tubs, and lots of alcohol are good for Democracy.

[tocqueville]

7. Iceland was a Norwegian/Danish Kingdom until 1918

the fact that they had local rules and sat and discussed with the local representants for the King doesn't transform you into a democracy.

Iceland was a free state without a king, until the end of the Sturlungaöld civil war in 1262, when it established a personal union with the Norwegian king with Gamli sáttmáli (English: The Old Covenant). From 1387 on, Iceland was in practice ruled by Denmark, following the union of the two kingdoms. When that union was dissolved in 1814, through the Treaty of Kiel, which saw Norway entering a union with Sweden, Iceland became a dominion (or colony) of Denmark. <3> Home rule was granted by the Danish government in 1904, and independence followed in 1918. <3> From 1918 on, Iceland was in a personal union with the Danish king, with foreign relations being carried out by the king, as instructed by the Icelandic government until the World War II military occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany in 1940. Subsequently, Iceland was occupied by the Allies. The Danish King remained the de jure sovereign of the nation until 1944, when the current republic was founded after the 1918 treaty had lapsed.

The new republic became a charter member of NATO in 1949 and signed a treaty with the United States in 1951 to take responsibility for the defense of Iceland. In September 2006, the U.S. withdrew the Iceland Defense Force from the base in Keflavík <4>. The U.S. have, however, pledged to keep defending Iceland with its forces situated abroad. This has resulted in a considerable build up and renovation in the Icelandic Coast Guard, which has been neglected since the last Cod War in 1976 and other Icelandic services.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland

[HereSince1628]

16. In the year 930 the settlers established their central parliment

or þing. It was given the name Alþing which simply means the central parliment. The parliment still convenes today and is believed to be the world's oldest national assembly.

I guess I was wrong to assume having a Parliment meant having some sort of representative government.

[Benhurst]

4. A thread started on the death of the Republic

turns into a debate on which nation qualifies as the oldest republic.

Well, of one thing you can be sure: as of last night, this one isn't even in the running.

[tocqueville]

8. the Republic isn't dead, democracy is dying.

Republic would be dead if George proclaims himself as George I, King of Americas. If he lets a parliament rule and doesn't intervene, it's a democracy like Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden etc... but at the same time a Monarchy.

If George keeps the republic but rules personally, it's a republic like China, North Korea etc...

If he chooses to be the highest religious authority, it's a republic like Iran and a theocracy.

Republic means only "no king" that is to say no hereditary rule. Then it can be anything. Countries with monarchies like Sweden can be far more democratic than today's US.

[Benhurst]

9. With the Constitution shredded and ignored, The Republic is

dead. Whether it is some form of republic or nascent dictator remains to be seen.

[tocqueville]

19. the US could keep its constitution and be a monarchy

with a little formal amendment. The king would be then a powerless representative. The President would become a prime minister. I emphasize the difference between republic and democracy because the mixture of the concepts is not sound. By pointing out a false concept of Republic, it allows some elements to pretend that the "US isn't a democracy, but a republic". Thus meaning that the ultimate power is in the hands of the president, not in the masses and demeaning that way the power of Congress.

[tocqueville]

5. it's never too late

France had 3 restaurations periods and a fascist regime. But 60 years after the last attempt, we are a stable democracy. In a way the situation in the US today reminds very much of the Vichy regime, with the exception of the presence on foreign troops on its territory.

What you need is a "De Gaulle" and a resistance. The later doesn't have to be violent.

You have to ORGANIZE. THEN you can take to the streets. It's a question of sheer numbers. They might kill some but they can't kill the whole population.

the main problem for the modern progressive Americans is that they don't have any experience of "social resistance" since they never had to deal with the problem.

If the situation gets worse (massive arrests or obviously stolen elections 2008), one first step should be to proclaim a government in exile.

[DeBunk]

6. Laws can be repealed.

Our only hope is to throw ourselves into winning the election.

If you aren't working to win, volunteering, canvasing etc... You are helping to throw our democracy down the tubes.

Do this if you don't have a candidate in your district:

freewayblogger.com

[TahitiNut]

10. We're now the "People's Republic of Dumbfuckistan"

Dim Schlong-Dumbya is the Dear Leader.

We don't deserve a democracy that we've shown we're unwilling to keep. Democracy REQUIRES participation - it's not a spectator sport.

[hootinholler]

11. Got me!

:rofl:

-Hoot

[StellaBlue]

21. The rest of the world has thought this for YEARS

before Bush... seeing our TV exported...

but, yeah...

:eyes:

:(

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. I would be honored to join you in the next cell.

For I am calling for precisely what one of our founding fathers thought we needed to survive - a revolution. Al Hamilton wrote in agreement with others, that a revolution every generation or so would be the tonic to keep the best parts of our country free and alive. He knew very well the corrosive impact that long standing governments, vested interests, and self-absorbed political parties would have.

A revolution - the most patriotic step that a TRUE AMERICAN could take.

[mom cat]

13. I just hope that our cells

are in the left wing!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. It will depend on which way you face. I plan to face forward & sit in the

left wing. With you and other true patriots.

[mom cat]

15. Thats a plan.!

[blondeatlast]

17. The terrorists won. We've become just like them.

They've made us submit to them.

We will take this great nation back, but it looks as if blood will be spilled.

This is the darkest day I've known; darker than 9/11/01, because those that slaughtered thousands of innocent people that day on my nation's soil have accomplished exactly what they set out to do--make us like them.

See you in Gitmo.

God help me, where dis my nation go? :cry:

[genie_weenie]

18. I know everyone is rightfully shocked at

the passage of Torture until they confess in secret tribunal bills but America was not then and never has been a "Democracy".

All the Current Rulers have done is show the American People: 1) We don't care what you think about War, the Law, Industry, 2) Taunting the Slaves over their powerless Status and 3) Laughing at the fact that other slaves to the State will fight to remain enslaved...

[chill_wind]

20. "America". Time to change the lyrics (and print out and pass along.)

Friday, September 29, 2006
"America"--New Lyrics for a New Dark Age

My country 'tis of thee
Once known for liberty, for thee I weep.
Land where our fathers died,
Now prisoners won’t be tried,
Torture and spies abide, while we all sleep.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free, no longer so;
Presidents now make war,
Don't even say what for;
While Congress hides behind closed doors, and won't say no.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees, sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let us our silence break, and right this wrong.

Our Founders now to thee,
Authors of liberty, we make this vow:
No more will tyrants vain
Our Constitution stain
We will our rights regain. That’s starting now!



http://www.thiscantbehappening.net/