How America SHOULD export democray

[mandyky]

We are finding out the hard way, we can't do this with bombs and bullets, and invasions. So let's brainstorm a bit and see what would make sense.

First, the US needs a branch of the military that only does "peace keeping" work. I hear over and over again about how in Serbia/Kosovo things are hard for America troops because the US military is not trained for peace keeping.

Second, we need to borrow from the Israelis, the Kibbutz idea. Recruit, train, and deploy groups of 100 - 500 Peace Corps type volunteers into fairly safe countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.

Third, borrow from the Seeds of Peace and have summer camps worlwide, where American as well as citizens of other countries get together and do cultural sharing.

What are your ideas?

[Voice_of_Europe]

1. Import Export

I think democracy can't be exported without "forcing" anybody to take it up.

It can only be imported willingly.

[Bridget Burke]

2. By example.

Show the world how well a country can work that is actually run by the people.

Currently, we're showing the world how bad things can get when democracy is subverted.

[Tyler Durden]

3. How about letting other folks make their own decisions?

Hey, I realize this is a unique concept, especially since the Great, Big, Bad ol' U S of A is the Bestest and Nicest and .....

Sorry. Sarcasm overload.

Seriously, the only thing WE export from our political system is CAPITALISM, pure and simple. And besides that, we seem to be the world's Poster Child for the fragility of Wide Open republicanism (note the small "r").

Lincoln predicted that one outcome of our political system was for it to die of factionalism. Until we find a way to make Democratic Republics immune to factionalism (outlaw Political Parties? complete public funding of elections? other?) then perhaps we would be well advised to keep our viruses to ourselves.

[mandyky]

5. Exporting democracy and capitalism are 2 different things

I agree that we need to export more democracy, and lay off the exporting capitalism. Otherwise, we are exporting exploitation of the people we are exporting to.

[Tyler Durden]

9. But we don't export Democracy. We never have.

We export:

American Values,
The American Way of Life,
Free Markets,
Free Trade,
ETCETERA.

'twas EVER thus, and has never been different for the 50+ years I've been kicking around.

Unfortunately, history shows that Revolution leads to Republic leads to Empire leads to Decline and Dissolution. Our political system has not (and in my not-so-humble-opinion) evolved sufficiently at this point in history to be an example to ANYONE, and has, in fact, moved backwards to a startling degree.

[iconoclastic cat]

4. To be honest, what about supporting it here?

It seems to me that the government and corporations reign, while "civics" and U.S. government courses have been dropped from most k-12 gen ed curricula.

[mandyky]

12. That's in my other thread

50 + ways to make America better

[bryant69]

6. Having a branch of peacekeeping forces

Is functionally the same as having a trained group of occupying forces. The problems our troops faced in Serbia and Kosovo are very similar to the problems faced in Iraq. I mean if we teach a group of soldiers how to deal with civilian populations in ways that won't antagonize them, how to successfully fight gurillias, urban warfare, and all that stuff, we could then use them in Iran or Syria or Texas.

That said, it still might be a good idea. I'm just not sure that such troops would always be used in ways that we approve.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[sushi]

7. I would have thought

that everybody knows democracy can't be forced on other people with bombs and bullets. Why this desire by the American government to dominate other countries? Why not just help poor countries in times of need, like during famine, earthquakes, and floods, and when they ask for other help. There should be no forcing anything on others!
When people are ready for freedom they will fight for it.

I also like the idea of cultural sharing. Apart from that, we should all mind our own business, imo.

[Spazito]

8. I believe one cannot export nor import "democracy"...

I think this quote says it best, imo, that is why I use it for my sig.


"Freedom and dignity spring from within the human heart. They are not imposed. And inside the human heart is where the impetus for political change must be generated." Wes Clark, 2004, Washington Monthly

[rman]

10. America doesn't produce democracy

- no free independant press, needed for the people to have control over the political process

- no proper education, needed for informed opinion

- BBV


Not that it's much better in other parts of the 'civilized world'.

[mandyky]

15. Our press is a major problem

After 9-11 they all hung their heads and talked about how maybe they should cover foreign issues more. But now, they seem worse than ever. Entertainment news is even taking precedence of national news, except for the obligatory sound bytes.

[mandyky]

11. Get rid of Martha

Kick

[Pabst Blue Democrat]

13. There may be no right way to "export" democracy.

Democracies....true democracies are not installed. They are born.

[mandyky]

14. Yes, but our citizens visiting other countries

is how we lead by example. We need not export with force, just send helpers and people of goodwill to work in these countries.