[Cincinatus' Wife]

Terrorism a top issue in Nicaragua election (Daniel Ortega making return?)

What is Hugo Chavez up to in Venezuela?

Castro is no laughing matter

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Are there reasons for alarm or are Latin American voters simply doing what so many American voters do, which is to stay away from the polls?

Two possibilities.

1. Strong arm tactics to suppress exciting campaigners.

2. No exciting campaigners to be had.

IMO, a lack of voting is due to a lack of turmoil. In a way, that is good for a REPUBLIC. It stops a lot of emotionalism and the only people who vote are those who really care. People who care are more informed.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Great post again. Those articles you posted on your post #1, I have marked for later reading. Thank you.

I have some further interesting freepmail to send you in the near future.

[Kermit]

Here's the problem, people have been promised miracles with "democracy" ultimately based on the idea that you can vote yourself wealthy. Of course, this doesn't work and people give up on the politicians and institutions that have promised this.

America is different. The democratic components of the US Constitution were put into the Constitution not to create "democracy", but as a way to protect liberty. The goal is individual freedom, the means was democracy. Americans expect to create our wealth and focus most of our attention on things outside of politics and democracy, expect of course for the lefties, who think the source of everything is government. Unfortunately, they never seem to get disillusioned and grow up. Democratic Party pols have been getting the votes of Black Americans for decades now promising goodies through government and blaming racist Republicans. There seems to be no end in sight to this.