Winston Churchill said, as I recall, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” That may be so, but I think democracy has a lot of shortcomings, some of which I would like to identify here: 

The Electorate
Back in 1800 and before, the electorate here and in Great Britain consisted of an elite group of free male landowners, who could differ vociferously about  many issues, but who at least accurately understood what those issues were. As suffrage was extended to the rest of the population, and at the same time the issues became increasingly complex, the comprehension gap steadily increased. Today, as an example, the Tea Party movement demonstrates how far our citizens are from understanding what’s going on. They can be rallied to march against a supposed Democratic plan to achieve ‘Nazi Communism’ without really understanding either of those contradictory terms, or how the actions of the Obama administration in any way fit either description.

Technology
As this country extended itself across the continent, the electorate necessarily became dependent on the public media as their primary means of understanding events and issues. In Britain, it has been understood for many years that certain publications will provide the slant that you prefer – The Telegraph for Tories, The Guardian for Labourites, and so on. The BBC, on the other hand, appears to maintain a relatively unbiased view. Until recently, the American media, for the most part, also strove for objectivity. With the acquisition of Fox News by Rupert Murdoch, this position has changed. While making the preposterous claim to be ‘Fair and Balanced’, Fox presents increasingly outrageous propaganda for the moronic conservatives who consume it.

But a brand-new development last week has made me even more cynical about the democratic form of government. A right-wing radio commentator actually succeeded in forcing the resignation of an administration employee by selectively editing a recorded speech to reverse its meaning, creating the impression for listeners that the woman was biased against whites.

As the tools to edit both audio and video data improve, it seems to me that it should become possible to create entire speeches by political figures out of whole cloth. We might expect to see on Fox News, for example, a face, apparently that of Barack Obama in his popular Joker makeup, praising Nazi Communism and explaining his plans to create death camps for Republicans. How can the average citizen possibly separate fact from fiction?

The Solution
If democracy is so fragile, you will now be saying, was Churchill wrong? Is there, in fact, a better form of government?
It’s possible. I believe there is much to be said for the time-honored system of benevolent dictatorship. As you are all aware, I am the most modest of men; far be it from me to put myself forward as a candidate for any kind of election. If I should be drafted by public acclaim, however, I promise to be as benevolent a dictator as anyone could want. (Except, of course, for those benighted individuals who oppose me. For them, a few well-designed death camps might really be the thing.)

by Alex Goss

Ronald Reagan Chopping Wood

The final 35 minutes are about to start. In all likelihood most votes have already been cast, and signs from around the country, particularly in Barking, show that there have been high turnouts. Twitter is reporting huge queues for polling in the Newington area, and general signs are good. The Anti-BNP voters have turned out in force, accompanied by police.

There are two new rumors spreading. One is of a 39% Conservative, with Labour and Liberal Democrats fighting for second. The other is Conservatives 37%, and Labour and the Lib Dems on 26% each. It’s important to note that these are only rumors, and that exit polls are notoriously unreliable, though it’s not quite clear whether these are exit polls. Also, between 12% and a quarter of all votes were cast by post before Cleggmania happened.

10.45 is the official timing of  Sunderland Central, and the rest of Sunderland should soon follow. It’s a safe labour seat, notionally so the initial results will seemed skewed towards Labour, but overall impressions are heading the opposite way.

Latest News : Gordon sleeping after Lamb stew, Dave chopping wood.

Brown sat alone, as the sun shone through his window. His hands, white with tension, gripped the mahogany desk, while he tried to spin his chair around. It was impossible. The hands were preventing a full rotation.

‘Gordon? Are you there?’ Shrilled a voice behind the door. Miliband. But which one? Brown shrugged to himself and set about trying to spin his chair. A knock. Then the door groaned open.

‘What is it, Ed?’ he asked, pulling his chair closer.

‘David, actually’ he mumbled. ‘President Obama sends his congratulations.’

‘Can I speak with him?’

‘He’s gone. Said he was rushed, had to go and play golf.’

‘Obama. He’s a good person.’ Brown checked his lapels with faux-nostalgia,before adding ‘he’d better not send me some more DVDs.’

Miliband laughed, and Brown reciprocated with a smile. Today had gone well. The Tories would be unelectable for decades. Their spending cuts had crippled Britain, and they had sought to undo all Labour’s good work. Today, Cameron packed up Downing Street, returning to opposition. He resigned, deciding to spend more time with his family. George Osborne had filled the void, but Boris Johnson was indicating his interest, next year perhaps.

‘You know, David, I think I’m getting old.’ Miliband perked up.

‘Oh, no, Gordon. You aren’t a day over forty.’ This was it. He was about to ask him to lead. All these years.

‘I just think, seeing how good it is to communicate with the British youth, would you tweet me?’

‘I beg your pardon?’ said Miliband, disappointedly.

‘Tweet me?’ He stared at Miliband, puppy-dog eye expectant.

Miliband clenched his fist. The man was never going to give up power. He stopped the Lib Dem coalition because Clegg wanted to lead. He prevented the Mandelson take over. He’d clung on for such a long time, yet nobody wanted him. And besides, nobody used Twitter anymore!

‘Yes, Prime Minister. I will ‘tweet’ you.’

‘Thank you.’ Miliband left. Brown revolved, having relinquished his grip. He was here to stay.

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, knownfor his vehement opposition to the USA, has carried out his threat to begin tweeting, hoping to end his rivals’ hold over the internet. Chavez, who earlier called those who used the site to criticise his regime ‘terrorists’, is the latest high-profile person to sign up to the service, made famous through celebrities like Stephen Fry.

Perhaps Chavez likes a challenge. Each Sunday, he presents his own TV and radio show, running for several hours. The other six days, he’s whipping up support with multiple three-hour speeches. It could be difficult for him to limit these Khrushchevian efforts to just 140 characters.

Though Chavez hopes to combat Venezuelan critics, his decision to start tweeting is certain to expose him to foreign criticism. People with access to a computer, phone and free speech will be able to try their hand at criticising and taunting the despot, without having to fear reprisal.

To many people, Twitter is a platform for above-averagely extroverted egocentrists, keen to lord over their merry followers. Finally, this sideliner sees a worthwhile reason to sign up. Harangue a dictator. It’s for a good cause.

twitter.com/chavezcandanga

It helps to speak Spanish, though.

Obama’s shock defeat in the Democrat heartland of Massachusetts will have been a bitter blow. From a political perspective, it is a damning inditement of the Democrats’ first year in office, and worrying for the President who is watching his support slip through his fingers. But this is not by any means the worst part.

The loss of the seat of Ted Kennedy (pictured), after several decades, dangerously jeopardises Obama’s dream of a national health insurance scheme, more or less an American NHS. It is outrageous enough that the world’s leading country, a proud forward thinking democracy, leaves millions vulnerable because they cannot afford health insurance. The fact that Obama must now fight the senate’s Republicans just to get the weakest parts of his plans passed is a scandal.

All intellectual arguments pale into significance beside the pain and deaths across the States that Obama’s plan would stop. And now there is a serious risk that it will fail. The Republicans are making a blinkered mistake, and now they have enough members to veto the Democrat coalition.

Obama cannot give up on his healthcare reforms. Too many Americans need him to succeed. But it is suddenly looking like he might not make it after all.

By awarding Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, the relevant committee has unintentionally laid bare his flaws. This prize is perhaps the highest accolade in the world, and nobody can truly say that he has earned it. Even Obama’s supporters say that the panel was “recognising his potential;” but you cannot give a “pre-emptive prize” any more than Obama could have been given the Presidency because he was “probably” going to win the election. And there are many, many people who would contest that Obama’s foreign policy success is “probable.” He has been in office for nearly a year now, and in that time he has achieved essentially nothing in Israel. There is a very long way to go in Russia, Iran and Afghanistan. At the same time, Obama’s efforts are being undermined by anti-healthcare Republicans back home. There is a very reasonable chance that Obama will crash and burn.

            So if Obama cannot earn his Nobel Peace Prize on “potential,” why should he get it at all? America is divided; the Middle East is the same as it was a year ago; Obama has not saved the world from any sudden crisis. Awarding him the prize just looks gimmicky: jumping on the Obama-Messiah bandwagon.