Democracy v. Constitutionalism
by: woozyblogger <http://profiles.yahoo.com/woozyblogger/?.src=prf&.done=http%3a//finance.messages.yahoo.com/bbs%3f.mm=FN%26action=m%26board=4686901%26tid=hwp%26sid=4686901%26mid=370002&lg=us> 06/29/05 01:54 pm
Msg: 370002 of 370004 
In thinking about the future of the Middle East, we should keep in mind the difference between pure democracy and constitutional government. The genius of the American constitution is the way that it balances majority control with protection of minority rights. The House is population-based; the Senate is state-based. The majority rules; the Bill of Rights sets limits on that rule. The legislature makes the law; the Supreme Court interprets the law. And so on.

What we have to fear in the Middle East is that autocracy will give way to Islamic theocracy and the theocrats will come to power via the ballot box. Iran's recent election is a case in point. I don't think it is stretching things to speculate that without the American invasion of Iraq, Iran would have continued on the course of gradual moderation and reform it had been following for the last few years. Now it is making an about-face, returning to stricter theocratic control and an aggressive atomic weapons development program, all validated by an election. Even within Iraq, the theocrats are assuming control, propelled by their victory in the recent election. Basra and much of southern Iraq is now under Islamic law, enforced by the Shia mullahs. 

Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. 


