ELECTIONS ARE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES

Democracy is merely one more political attempt by the minority to control the wealth of the majority of citizens in a country. Monarchys, Dictatorships, right wing military juntas, left wing socialist or communist states; they are all the same thing. A minority who feel they are smarter, stronger and wealthier than the other 95% of the citizens want to be in charge. Make no mistake, even in a democracy, elections are bought. Why do you think the United Staes have two major parties only? Why do you think Canada has only three? Money. It is the key to opening the doors to power. How many "independents" ever get elected in Canada? Look carefully even at your local municipal politicians. Most of them are affiliated with the NDP, Liberals or Conservatives. Can anyone join these parties? Essentially yes but these individual members do not make party platforms. They try and they send motions and ratificiations to the provincial and national bodies who consider them, maybe.

Democracy is messy. That is one of the reasons it is rejected by many powerful and wealthy elites around the world. Citizens often get it wrong. They mess up and can't always be trusted to blindly follow the bought and paid for road laid out for them. Sometimes as when the economy is in the dumpster they just arbitrarily kick the government of the day out on their butts. Not that they or anybody else actually think that the winning party will do any better. See, messy.

Here's the good thing about democracy. If you can play the game, abide by the rules (mostly) and win; then you can claim legitimacy. You are truly and honestly the peoples' representatives. You have the moral high ground. At least for the moment. You absolutely will have to lie, cheat and rob them blind during the course of your tenure in order to solidify your support and financial ability to fight the next election. While in power you can modify the rules to your liking while having to tolerate some media and some activists throwing stones, but mostly the majority aren't interested until the next election.

Here however is the commonality amongst vastly different political systems. The Arab spring has most recently brought this to the forefront. Eventually the people will get fed up. They will know if they are being lied to, too much. They will know if they are being robbed too much. And they will rebel. In the middle east a lot of it started and ended with peaceful mass protests and where that didn't work they engaged in violent response to the inherent violence of the state. Inherent violence by the way of all states, democratic or autocratic. A government of the 1-5% wealthy and powerful elite can not rule without police and military available to them from time to time. But when push comes to shove the 95-99% will win. This is the overiding fear of autocracys and dictatorships everywhere. The results are usually bloody. This is the one huge advantage of democracies. Regieme changes can and do occur. The ruling elite are not physically exterminated. They live to fight another day. The bad news is that the new regieme is usually inherently no better than the old. Merely different and at least for a little while a lot more careful. It is the older, long term entrenched governments who become complacent and arrogant. Until the pressure relief valve of elections comes along.

Keep in mind that our home grown politicians are skilful liars in order to convince citizens that they their duly elected representatives are working on their behalf. Imagine being the only party permitted in a country. Imagine being an allegedly benevolent dictator or monarchy. The level of lying and deceit is even more difficult under those conditions. Give credit where it is due. Stephen Harper and his crew should start taking lessons from some of the more blatant liars around the world. Or maybe they already are.