Tragicomedy in Minsk | 42 comments (42 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

I have never seen a more contradictory statement than:

But just because a dictatorship has majority support does not mean it is a democracy.

Besides the fact that a dictatorship does not even bother to hold elections in the first place...

That takes some real mental gymnastics when taking into account your other statement:

As for Lukashenko's popularity - I don't think many people are seriously disputing that he is popular and would win a fair election.

by slaboymni on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 02:11:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (4.00 / 5)

I have never seen a more contradictory statement than

It's no contradiction when the process in which the majority is supposed to express its will is rigged. Check the previous Belarus thread (by soj yesterday or the day before, on the frontpage) for more on this (discussion between me and blackhawk).

Besides the fact that a dictatorship does not even bother to hold elections in the first place...

Most dictatorships of the 20th century held elections. Sham elections, rigged elections, but elections.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 02:38:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (4.00 / 6)

They hold sham and rigged elections to be able to claim legitimacy. (Even Hitler did that.)

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 02:39:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 0)

Sham elections, rigged elections, but elections.

By your definition, Bush is just as much a dictator as George W. Bush, as is every other leader of a western "democracy".

It's funny how "democracy" means "will of the people", presumably the people of the country holding the election. Yet somehow everyone in western Europe holds the paternalistic attitude that they know best what kind of "democratic" political system should be imposed on the Belorussian people - again, for their own good. They're just too stupid and backward to be able to elect their own leaders.

by slaboymni on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 06:36:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 0)

That should read "Lukashenko is just as much a dictator as George W. Bush".

by slaboymni on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 06:38:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 0)

I think you'd find people here who might rephrase that to "Lukashenko is just as much a dictator as George W. Bush would like to be".

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 06:42:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 0)

Living in the US, I can honestly say that Bush is probably more of a dictator ;-)

by slaboymni on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 06:44:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 0)

Do Democrats hold no power? Did police prevent the exposure of his stealing of elections by pollsters and vote analysts? I think he is less of a dictator as yet, though one with much graver consequences for the entire world.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 06:54:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 0)

Did police prevent the exposure of his stealing of elections by pollsters and vote analysts?

Hah! The situation is even more hopeless than that. Even though the Dems hold no power, they completely support Bush (some - ahem, Hillary) I would even consider to be to the right of W.

And, yes, the DOJ is perfectly aware that the statistical probability of the vote outcome in Ohio is about like being struck by lightning in Moscow in January. They didn't do anything.

Quite the opposite, MSM outlets constantly trumpet the truth of anything W says, no matter how outrageous. I've lived in Russia and I can say that US propaganda is much more powerful and far-reaching than anything the Soviets ever achieved. And the worst part is that it's voluntary on the part of the megacorps controlling the MSM! They're not being forced to write this drivel, as the Soviet propagandists were.

by slaboymni on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 07:03:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 0)

Even though the Dems hold no power

They have several governors, and blocking minority in federal assemblies.

They didn't do anything.

They didn't prevent others from learning it either. OK, a few millions learning the truth didn't shake their power.

I can say that US propaganda is much more powerful and far-reaching than anything the Soviets ever achieved.

On that, fully agreed.

They're not being forced to write this drivel, as the Soviet propagandists were.

That's part of why they are so much more powerful: with 'communist' propaganda, we were always conditioned to try to read between the lines, but with US MSM propaganda, there is the myth of objectivity and independence and competition of opinions.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 07:11:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 0)

The Dems do not have a "blocking minority in federal assemblies". You haven't been to DailyKos in a while have you? There is constant bewailing of this fact there.

Of course they prevented others from learning about the voting fraud. Ask any American on the street about it now. You will get a stare even blanker than the one you would get if you asked them the mathematical significance of PI. They'll ask if your tinfoil hat is on too tight.

The fact is that they are a token opposition, no different than that in Belorussia.

by slaboymni on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 08:00:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Tragicomedy in Minsk (none / 1)

Bush is a dictator, OK, but your sweeping generalizations are a bit too sweeping for my taste.

I haven't proposed what type of democratic political system Belorussia should have, but one in which fake polling organisations conduct exit polls to prove ridiculous results and then opposition supporters and media people are arrested for swearing is definitely not one.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Mar 23rd, 2006 at 06:51:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Tragicomedy in Minsk | 42 comments (42 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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