By Adam Graham
hat is the cure for the world’s problems? What can solve poverty, crime, and drugs? What can take away all of society’s ills?
If you answered Jesus or religion, morality, and Capitalism, you haven’t been studying the state religion recently. The answer is democracy. We fought a war to make “the world safe for Democracy.” It is the goal of the current administration to spread democracy around the world. Democracy at home is lauded by Conservatives and Liberals alike: more voting, more direct Democracy, and more citizen initiatives. Third parties argue for more choices, more direct ballot access.
But, does Democracy work? Does it achieve aims such as spreading human rights and freedom, while giving citizens more control of their government? Lets take a look at how Democracy works abroad.
Most people in the world vote. There are a few communists, military dictatorships, and emirates here and there but they are in the minority. Has the result been Universal freedom and opportunity in these Democracies?
No, far from it. India is a land ravaged and torn apart by Civil War and strife. Serbia, Yugoslavia, and Rwanda were all Democracies and ended up as bloodbaths. Get out the World Almanac and read through its list of nations and you’ll find that so many countries have tried Democracy only to be subject to constant upheaval.
The successful democracies have fared little better such as France and Germany. You’ll find many rife with high unemployment rates, intolerable rates of taxation, and onerous government intervention that drives people overseas.
Conclusion:
Democracy does not always bring freedom or opportunity. It doesn’t cure all societal ills. Democracy is an ingredient in a free society, but it is not a panacea. A true free society requires more vital, fundamental reforms:
1) a religious and moral people: If a people is not moral, they will not remain free. They will become self-indulgent and corrupt and will not defend their liberty. They will not carefully guard their freedom.
2) An armed people: In order to avoid the rise of a tyrannical government, the right to bear arms is essential. It provides the ultimate check on government abuses of power.
3) A free market economy which will have limited government that allows people full opportunity to achieve their potential with limited taxes and regulations.
4) A price must be paid for liberty. Freedom that is paid for without bloodshed and without sacrifice by the people of that country will be less likely to be defended. As Thomas Paine wrote, “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.”
This combined with a free republican form of government can bring the blessings of liberty and prosperity to a people.
How does Iraq stack up against these ideals?
The Iraqis are a religious people, but are plagued by nihilistic Baathists and the terrorist friendly Shiite extremists as well. The difficulty of having a united country under these terms can’t be understated.
The US decision to disarm Iraqis leaves open the possibility of another dictator coming to power and the people once again being unable to defend themselves against such an attack. The lack of morality and decency among many Iraqis led to this loss of freedom.
The most encouraging sign in Iraq is its market economy. The Iraqi Council has gotten the economy off on the right track by enacting a 15% flat tax. Iraq will have to be very careful and ignore the UN on matters of economics, and avoid the temptations of socialism that most others have fallen for or they’ll remain a third world Democracy.
The final note is the most discouraging. The number of Iraqis who heroically died during the war to get rid of Hussein is miniscule at best. The greatest price most Iraqis have paid for their freedom is inconvenience with the country’s electricity, and that quite begrudgingly. They did not rise up in arms and throw off the regime, rather their freedom was handed to them on a silver platter. Given such a gift, will they “esteem it too lightly?”
If history a guide, the answer is yes. Only time will tell if Iraq will break the pattern, or if we’ll be back in another 50-100 years.