My Blog Search
All parcels are
forakin at gmail dot com
Comment notice:
You are free to leave comments on my blogs as long as they are polite, reasoned and within the context of what I have written.
I will NOT entertain insults, abuse or expletives; your strength of emotion should be expressed without resorting to uncouth expression.
Since, it is my blog, I reserve the right to accept, review, edit without losing the context or delete the comment - if it does not meet standards of decent and polite discourse.
Finally, your comments cannot be anonymous, please give a name when leaving a comment.
Thanks for reading my blog and leaving a comment.
My Routine
My Interests
My News Junkie Staple
My Popular Tags
My Mini Search
My Latest Blogs
My BlogScope
My Flickr Badge
My Months Past
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- June 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
Democracy - Counting the votes or Counting on judges?
posted Thursday, 21 September 2006
Count each vote please
The kind of democracy that the United States espouses is probably not the kind of democracy that many other democratic nations would ascribe to. This is most evident in the turmoil that is about to engulf Mexico.
The Election 2000 dispute between Al Gore and George W. Bush, came down to the difference between counting each vote meticulously and the television networks making extrapolations and projections on a sampling of votes which then lead them to call an election for either party.
When the Mexican Electoral Court approved the counting of just 9% of the votes when a wider range of supposed irregularities were alleged, it was clear that resolving a suffrage through the courts rather that the count would lead to chaos.
Democratic ambivalence
Beyond this, the current American government displays a worrisome ambivalence to democracy; the ones they have supported in Afghanistan and Iraq are verging on failed states, the Palestinians popularly elected a “terrorist” organisation for which they are being punished, then Iran and Venezuela are democracies only that they are governed by anti-American figures.
The most interesting observation however is juxtaposing the American reaction to the recent Thai military coup and failed Venezuelan military coup of 2002.
Though the US has not vehemently defended the democratic cause in Thailand they have expressed their concern as “a very sad development”; this was not the case with Venezuela, they were not quick to condemn the coup and it appears they might have been culpable in the vent too.
The support the US offers to so-called liberation groups to destabilise democracies from within should be cause for concern, I would wonder how America would react if external forces intervened to perfect their not so perfect democracy.
References
Thai leaders ban political action
The Observer | Special reports | Venezuela coup linked to Bush team
U.S. Goals Are Thwarted At Pro-Democracy Forum
Iran: Tehran Opposes U.S. Pro-Democracy Initiatives
tags: democracy suffrage votes courts coups america
links: digg this del.icio.us technorati reddit
Dear Reader, Whilst welcome to leave comments I might use in other blogs, some rights are reserved.
Tag Related Posts
Ghana: No antibodies for this virus - Obama's speech
Sunday, 12 July 2009
What we should not lose sight of from President Obama's speech to the Ghanaian parliament is that it is the first time a Western leader has been able to speak the truth to African leaders and not have blow-back. Against Obama they have no antibodies.
Nigeria: No new states precursor to abolishing them
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
An ex-vice President suggests that states abolished in Nigera, there is a case for for this in the wider case of federal character and resource allocation.
Nigeria: Electoral reform starts with Iwu pensioned off
Monday, 16 March 2009
The first step to electoral reform in Nigeria is sacking the current chairman of INEC - Professor Maurice Iwu.
Nigeria: Courts give Diaspora the vote
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
The force of Diaspora is getting the vote and the right to participate in the political process from abroad.
In the last 2 weeks Nigerians & South Africans may and the South Koreans assuredly can.
Nigeria: The false debates on same sex marriage
Monday, 26 January 2009
The debate on same sex marriage is really about criminalising defenceless people using false information that does not address the real issues that affect the life expectancy and health of Nigerians. We are being short-changed with hypocrisy.
Nigeria: Women's democratic rights curtailed by Sharia
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
The failure of Islam to address the rights of divorced Muslim women lead to the call for a protest by the women.
Protest has been banned by the Sharia police that feels it is an embarrassment to islam - is Nigeria not a democracy?
Guinea: African leaders are indeed mortal
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
The death of President Lansana Conté of Guinea brings us back to an analysis of the problems of leadership in Africa.
The Nero of Siam
Monday, 1 December 2008
The events in Siam give great cause for concern not so much for democracy but for the monarchy that migh well begin to make itself irrelevant to its subjects.
Nigeria: Ribadu and kids get bundled out of NIPSS graduation
Sunday, 23 November 2008
The erstwhile EFCC chairman gets bundled out of the NIPSS graduation cermony after the government fails by all other means to stop his graduation. His wife, 6 children and his guests all get pulled out of the event too.
America: John McCain is NOT the man
Monday, 3 November 2008
John McCain has by his actions, decisions and choices made the choice for me - he is not the man for the moment, he is not the one to take America to a higher place.
Nigeria: June the Twelfth
Thursday, 12 June 2008
15 years since the promise of representative democracy was destroyed by the machinations of a malevolent military junta.
We are yet to achieve that standard of democratic resolve which makes this day still so relevant and significant to Nigeria's fu
Cyclone Nargis: The death knell of the military junta
Saturday, 10 May 2008
The attitude of the military junta in Burma to the major disaster caused by cyclone Nargis might well be the death knell of that regime regardless of the referendum on democracy they are holding today.
Zimbabwe: Mugabe is a coward
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Robert Mugabe is coward, he cannot bear to see he has lost and he cannot accept the fact that he has lost - he is afraid of the truth of democracy in Zimbabwe and he must not be allowed to change the truth.
Zimbabwe: Mugabe's epitaph by a little girl
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
With bated breath and great anticipation we wait for a new dawn in Zimbabwe.
After every vote is counted, the man must know that his time is up and time has now passed him by.
Zimbabwe: Thanks Mugabe, Now Give Way
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Keeping faith with Zimbabwe that today they shall be freed from the clutches of the Grand Despot of Africa.
Inside China: Hatchlings of Democracy get nasty
Sunday, 23 March 2008
The election for class monitor of 8-year olds in China reveals a lot more about the machinations and manipulation of democracy and the dangers that might be ahead.
They damned the consequences
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Murders and vote-rigging by people who damned the consequences of their actions in Pakistan and Kenya. We need to have ways of getting justice for these unjust actions.
Benazir Bhutto, 1953 - 2007
Thursday, 27 December 2007
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in the garrison city of Rawalpindi today.
Putin and Chavez - Great Leader or Dear Leader?
Monday, 3 December 2007
Elections in oil-rich states belie the use of democratic process to entrench a benign authoritarianism or a virulent socialism.
Nigeria takes Big Tobacco to court about kids
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Nigeria is suing international cigarette companies on their complicity in allowing their cigarettes to fall into the hands of children. They do have a cause, but maybe not a case.
Musharraf cannot fool us again
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Emergency rule in Pakistan is bad enough but to be lectured by General Musharraf on his failed democratic credentials is an insult we should not take lying low.
America: Maniac with razor blades
Friday, 26 October 2007
Sanctions complicate issues and makes negotiations very difficult. America's position is now seen as one of a maniac with razor blades threatening a nuclear crisis which parallels the Cuba Nuclear Crisis of the 1960s.
The seriously unfunny Kiwi parliament
Sunday, 5 August 2007
The New Zealand parliament have banned using footage of parliament for satirical purposes. Me thinks we need a radical lobotomy to force in a humour gene.
Religion saves cow for consumption
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Two ways in in which religion can try to skew civil society.
Obasanjo does Pírìgìdì in Christian Theology
Friday, 8 June 2007
The ex-President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo has returned to school for a post graduate diploma in Christian Theology - how contrite.
Democracy Day in the eyes of the fair-minded
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Democracy Day in Nigeria and the swearing-in of the new President after 8 years of very little achievement for the ordinary Nigerian people.
The Nigerian Proclamation
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
On Nigeria's "Democracy" Day and the handover of reins of government to the President Select, I join other Nigerian bloggers in this proclamation. Slight correction for English rather than American spelling.
Nigerian uniqueness or French aberration
Saturday, 5 May 2007
Were there Nigerian observers at the French elections? They would have learnt a lot about how to conduct elections.
Turkey belongs outside Europe for now
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
The current developments in Turkey are ample proof that the country does not belong in Europe if secularism has more weight that the results of democracy.
Preparing for a one-party state
Monday, 23 April 2007
The numbers released as results of the elections in Nigeria are the kind of numbers that gave birth to one-party states and ineffectual opposition parties in Africa. I doubt if there would multi-party elections in 2011
Before we lose the Nigerian elections gracefully
Monday, 23 April 2007
The fundamental democratic human rights of Nigerians has been abused and infringed, but until some leader rises up to defend this right the verdict of the election observers would just be a vacuous exercise.
Commending the civic Nigerian
Sunday, 22 April 2007
Just a view about the preparations, the vote and the counting in Nigeria.
Nigerian ballots probably in the air
Friday, 20 April 2007
The President admits there were flaws and the INEC Chairman confesses there are no ballots - This election is truly sewn up, we would not be counting ballots, rather counting on judges.
e-Petition pillow fights at 10 Downing St
Friday, 13 April 2007
Petitions to 10 Downing Street are making things happen even though indirectly.
INEC can, Atiku can
Tuesday, 3 April 2007
Two rulings and confusion comes from where we expect clarity.
Four years of shock and awe
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
The story of Iraq tells itself without the need for analysis or excessive commentary.
The Yar'Adua website - not impressed
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
A visit to the Yar'Adua website leaves me seriously unimpressed.
The year of Armageddon upon us
Saturday, 13 January 2007
There is a possibility that the Middle-East might in view of radical American policies see the ignition of the tinder box of Armageddon - US, Iraq, Iran, Israel and Syria filling the rivers of Mesopotamia to Jordan with blood.
The Iraqi Travesty - Saddam escapes justice
Monday, 8 January 2007
All charges against Saddam Hussein have now been dropped and rightly so. However, I do remember that we were assured that all the charges would be tried even if he was killed, smart people knew the rush to kill him was behind that false promise.
Spare and pardon the Saddam video guard
Thursday, 4 January 2007
As the net closes in on the person who recorded the execution of Saddam, the fact of the matter is that the government lied to us when something different was happening. They should face up to their mistakes and learn to speak the truth.
Are we voting in 8 days time?
Tuesday, 14 November 2006
We have elections in the Netherlands in 8 days, but you'll be forgiven for thinking nothing is happening - much is going on, but would the right people be chosen?
Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin - Rumsfeld gone!
Wednesday, 8 November 2006
Found wanting and forced to change. Rumsfeld is out.
No voting advice for our Dear Dutch Leader
Sunday, 29 October 2006
StemWijzer is a voters' advisory, the Dutch Prime Minister answered 30 questions and StemWijzer could offer him no advice. That is seriously worrisome.
Many U-turns Required - II
Monday, 23 October 2006
In response to anonymous comments made to an earlier blog.
Democracy - Counting the votes or Counting on judges?
Thursday, 21 September 2006
After the military coup in Thailand, one wonders about America's commitment to and support of democracies around the world.
The American-Israeli tinderbox that Hezbollah lit up
Tuesday, 15 August 2006
If America was already privy to Israeli plans to attack Lebanon long before the kidnap of the 2 soldiers in Israel on July the 12th, the whole truth of this matter does not augur well for the new world order at all.
A large body count with no ease as war ceases
Monday, 14 August 2006
The people who lost the most from the Israeli-Lebanon conflict are those who were sacrificed in the proxy war between American and Iran, neither Israel nor Lebanon have gained anything - rather they would have to talk to each other.
Not leaving on a jet plane soon
Sunday, 13 August 2006
The number of planned terror attacks have been foiled, we are told, with that comes greater paranoia from the United States than the terrorists themselves could have intended. It you as much as have any liq
Somehow, Israel can do no wrong
Monday, 31 July 2006
The angel of death arrives in Qana, Lebanon a second time, on the wings of American supplied bombs, autographed by religious Jews and chaperoned by Israeli aircraft. This is utter madness.
A poker hand of unintended consequences
Sunday, 30 July 2006
The gamble US, Britain and Israel have taken in the Lebanon issue can see a better resolution than new occupations. Israel should relinquish occupied territories of Shebaa Farms and Golan Heights. That is the really hard but courageous decision.
Keeping moral convictions out of the US Constitution
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
Yesterday, the Senate voted to allow stem cell research with human embryos and the House voted to reject a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Karl Rove must be in overdrive on how to rescue this situation for the November 2006 Election.
Forked-tongues fuelling the Middle-Eastern fires
Saturday, 15 July 2006
Where would we find a seriously honest broker to look at the facts of the Middle-East Conflict and get the protagonists to face their responsibilities to global peace squarely and act accordingly? America is not in the frame for honest brokerage.
No to Balkenende III
Tuesday, 4 July 2006
There is no reason to allow a second reincarnation of the lack-lustre Dutch government. Their inability to accept responsibility and consequence shows they are both unfit for government or electoral success.
Blasting the hostage out of Gaza
Friday, 30 June 2006
I am not sure that the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure in Gaza would lead to the kind of resolution we all desire, the release of the young soldier-conscript. Does Israel have any tool beyond might in this conflict?
No nice words for Mrs Verdonk
Wednesday, 17 May 2006
Mrs Verdonk has seriously miscalculated the consequences of her decision to revoke Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Dutch citizenship. She has been called to other and her support have dived in the quest for party leadership. That is the hole that dug for herself.
Desiring a Palestinian Passover
Thursday, 11 May 2006
The Israelis celebrate in the peace of their borders and the desperation just beyond their walls as Passover arrives with the angel of death hovering over Palestine - all because the West is being unduly sanctimonious about Hamas.
America! Your move
Monday, 8 May 2006
A few days ago, I lamented the fact that presidents at war do not chat to each other before the break-out of hostilities. It now transpires the president of Iran has written to President Bush. This is an opportunity - do not miss it.
Death eludes the State
Wednesday, 3 May 2006
The jury decision to give Moussaoui a sentence of life imprisonment without parole might just end the obsession with the death penalty in America. Is the President and the Governors listening?
DeepThroat II exposed too early
Thursday, 27 April 2006
A CIA employee was sacked six days before retirement for unauthorised access to the press for exposing some activities in the secret services and possibly the Presidency which are almost certainly illegal. Whistle-blowers - an endangered species.
Abort this preschool finger-painting politics immediately
Wednesday, 19 April 2006
Having heard the party political broadcasts of both the Labour and Conservative parties in the UK, we cannot seriously be hoping that the message is anything but condescending. My third installment on democracy.
In danger of becoming endangered species
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
Two episodes in 16 months in which I have had the good fortune to walk away. This time being run into by a drunken scooter rider. My bicycle gets damaged and the mention of police has one victim of a hit-and-run.
The unjust condemnation of Palestinian choice
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
This is my second analysis of democracy where party ideology on which elections are won suffer an onslaught for change. It is like asking Republican conservative ideology to go liberal or communist.
Iraq is far away from a Gettysburg Address
Monday, 17 April 2006
I begin a series of examining what democracy means and why the ideals of the Gettysburg Address are beginning to look impossible to attain.
Eureka! is Farsi for Enrichment
Wednesday, 12 April 2006
Iran is enriched with the ability to enrich uranium, have we forgotten they just tested a supercavitation missile last week? Oil, gold, war, markets - what else is being knocked out of stability?
Just too many days of holiday in Nigeria
Tuesday, 11 April 2006
Having just stayed home for 7 days for the census, another holiday comes unannounced - I join in a lively conversation with the residents and those in Diaspora about Nigeria at work and at play.
In the coop as coup sounds like coon so soon
Saturday, 25 March 2006
A racial slur puts a talk show host out of work. Mind your words.
This Ugandan Moses leads to the Demised land
Tuesday, 28 February 2006
It is a crazy world if we have to take lessons in understanding democracy from Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. Once again the blight of eternal incumbency damages the good prospects of Uganda. 20 years in power with the people brow beaten.
Living with the results of true democracy
Thursday, 26 January 2006
When people go to vote, their purpose is to choose a leader, when the votes are tallied, the result reveals a leader. That is the result and dilemma we have to live with be it Bush, Chavez or Hamas.
Setting democracy ablaze with gas
Tuesday, 3 January 2006
This little Ukraine problem of gas supplies has more far-reaching consequences that could affect the whole basis of our democracy
Gubernator in Terminator IV
Wednesday, 14 December 2005
The Californian governor refuses to commute a death sentence and a circus witnesses the event - wherefore civilisation?
Web logs by Akin Akintayo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Netherlands License.