Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Why American politics no longer "stops at the water's edge".

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU
 
benburch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-12-05 02:42 PM
Original message
Why American politics no longer "stops at the water's edge".
For a long time in the USA, both parties stood by the phrase "Politics Stops At The Water's Edge". That is, we can have our internal disagreements, but that we would present a United front to the world, especially during time of war.

Now, I argue, is the time for Liberals and Conservatives who still have a conscience to abandon that maxim for the duration of the present emergency, and here, quite briefly, is why;

The American political system was predicated on a Constitution that laid down the rules of engagement.

Chief among these rules were fair elections, honesty in the dealings of the three co-equal branches of government with each other, and no covert unilateral actions abroad by any of the branches.

This is what we refer to as "The Social Contract".

The Social Contract is what gives Government the power to rule and gives The People the duty to obey Government. As The Declaration Of Independence says "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

As has become clear in recent months, the Executive Branch of our Government has pulled all three legs out from the stool that is just government;

- They cheated to get elected.

- They lied to Congress about the reasons for War.

- They had actually engaged in acts of war in Iraq covertly for months prior to making their case for war to Congress.

Under such a regime The Social Contract has been broken, and it becomes the Duty of all free people to fight the Executive Branch with whatever means become available, even if that takes American internal politics into the sphere of international relations.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
fooj Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-12-05 02:48 PM
Response to Original message
1. Kick and recommended!
Peace.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
GreenPartyVoter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-12-05 02:49 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Seconded
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
benburch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-12-05 04:05 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Thanks both of you. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
lala_rawraw Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-12-05 05:32 PM
Response to Original message
4. kicky
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
benburch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-12-05 08:54 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Thanks! nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Wed May 01st 2024, 09:29 AM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC