As usual I'm cynical about the USA political scene, particularly at the Presidential race level. Without wanting to malign the candidates, I think the distance between people's perceptions of them and their actual positions is a chasm.

Politics is as much about advertising as it is about accomplishments, skills, and character. It's a race to see which candidate appeals to the largest numbers of people. Once elected, they don't have to do anything they promised or what constituents ask them to do. This is called representative democracy and the reality of the vicious political circus of election shows it is not democratic at all.

When Mr. Bush or Cheney says it doesn't matter what people want them to do, they're going to do what they want, they have a point. Once elected, they don't have to follow the "will of the people." That's the beauty of representative democracy: They are only accountable to their oath of office and even that can often be violated without serious problems or repercussions. Again, witness Bush and Cheney.

So don't hold your breath for big change with Obama. Hope instead for fewer violations of the public trust. Then your expectations may be met.

Labels: democracy, loathing, politics, Prez race 2008