war and democracy
The nascar/evangelistic culture that now directs our social and political future, signals a major crisis in our democratic system that now lies in a naked, albiet bold form. As the motor of war is now shifting into high gear (conveniently timed to take place after the re-election campaign) progressives must stand on the margins and gaze in horror as our newly "mandated" president has taken the pre-reelection war gloves off as he resumes aggressions on Iraqi cities. With his new sense of confidence it is clear that Bush will sink us deeper into the abyss of death and pain. NY Times Perhaps political projects that focus on change in places where the moral majority resides is a step in the right direction, aiming to reverse the trend that our democratic practice now seems be following. ZNET Indeed, without confronting the dominant ideas and values of this country's culture a robust and critical democracy will remain far from the ground. These articles demonstrate the landscape of the present political moment; one through the brutal facts of war and presidential hubris and the other through hope in a movement toward an authentic democratic form.
