BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

Senator Joe Biden is monitoring the election in Pakistan along with several hundred others.  I suppose the purpose is to make sure that all votes are counted and that no “irregularities” occur.

Of course, we pride ourselves on being the political watchdog of elections in countries that can’t be trusted to hold fair elections without monitors.  I can’t complain about our interest in other countries and fair elections.

But, just as we have exported our democracy to Iraq, we are now exporting election oversight to Pakistan.  The arrogance of it all is appalling.  As we beat democracy into Iraq we are so fearful at home that we are willing to give up our personal rights and freedoms.  While we count votes in Pakistan, no one seems to be counting the votes in New York.  California is still on the bubble, at least as far as a final delegate count goes.  It took two weeks for New Mexico to come up with a tally.  South Carolina had voting machines that were suspect.

Our participation in global politics seems a little hollow at this point.  We are hell bent on making sure the rest of the world embraces the ideals that are the basis of our country.  But, we have lost our focus.  We are in a dangerous position. 

We can’t afford to export any more democracy.  We can’t afford to export voting rights and fair elections.  We are running out of democracy and fair elections here at home.  Maybe we should practice the theory that “democracy starts at home.”

The U.S. policy abroad now seems to be “do as I say, not as I do.”  What happened to lead by example?