October 24, 2003
Florida Theatrics Points to Future Erosion in the American Political System
How bad has the state of political discourse gotten in these United States? Look no further then the state of Florida for the answer wherein a Republican governor and Republican led Legislature have—contrary to the stated platform of the Republican Party which decries government interference in our lives—drafted and signed into a law a bill designed to effect just one person! I am referring of course to the heartbreaking case of Terri Schiavo.
It is bad enough that the Florida legislature over-stepped its authority in drafting the law, and the governor ill-used his office by signing the law, but in doing so they subverted our democratic process by sidelining the third branch of government, the judicial. And they did so not to save a life, but to garner the votes of the people from the religious right who support them in this foolishness!
Said noted and highly regarded Harvard law Professor Laurence Tribe of the goings on:
"I've never seen a case in which the state legislature treats someone's life as a political football in quite the way this is being done."
How sad a happenstance that American politicians have started to resort to Third World shenanigan and abuse of power and process in order to obtain and stay in office. Shame on the Florida Legislature and shame of governor Bush!
You may be interested in reading Dick Meyer’s Against the Grain column at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/23/opinion/meyer/main579620.shtml?cmp=EM8706
It also discusses what you have written here. It never ceases to amaze me that Republicans only scream about big government when it affects them directly, but if it doesn’t, then suddenly they are for it.
Posted by: Ravyne at October 24, 2003 03:40 PMRepublicans (and since 1992, the Democrats) do not simply rail against big government when it affects them directly. For example, they don’t rail about it when it helps them, only when it hurts them. What I find most interesting is that conservatives of both parties seem most highly upset not when big government affects them, but when it helps someone that they don’t think deserves to be helped. Think about that for a while.
Posted by: rev_matt at October 24, 2003 04:09 PMAs long as there is not an educated electorate there is no democracy.
And the situation is getting worse with the average person on the street have no idea of history never mind what the candidates even stand for.
All it takes is for Bush to say he is going to put a man on Mars for the media and most of the public to suddenly see Bush as some sort of visionary rather than a con man trying to divert the public’s attention.
Posted by: Federation of Metro Toronto Tenants Associations at January 17, 2004 12:18 PM
