London Times: The Worst are Deciding America's Policy's

From The Times
July 13, 2007

How paranoid little Napoleons took over America
Iraq and immigration have shown US politics at its worst

Democracy, Winston Churchill famously observed, is the worst form of government ever devised – except for all the others. Well, he was right about the first part.

In America these days democracy is living down to its reputation, producing sticking-plaster solutions to epochal challenges, indulging the worst populist instincts of its voters, throwing up demagogic leaders unworthy of the job and rejecting those of true courage. The most depressing spectacle is unfolding over Iraq. Washington has reached the stage where vital national interests – and the security of much of the world – are being determined almost entirely by immediate, panicky political considerations. Americans want their troops home.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article2067022.ece