. . . except for all the others that have been tried.

I am coming to the conclusion that democracy sucks. Just listed to the thunderous blowhards at the U.N. after the Secretary of State’s speech. All have to get their word in. All have to soar to heights of rhetoric. All have to repeat, over and over again, the same things that have been said before. And what happens in the end? Absolutely nothing. Nothing changes. Nobody changes their mind. Some might be more convinced and others less unconvinced but nobody shows the slightest movement off their base position. What an utterly useless excercise.

Democracy only works with a strong hand at the tiller. Theodore Roosevelt knew this. I think President Bush is starting to understand. You may dither with the talking heads and let them spout their blatherscythe but in the end you’ve got to go right ahead and do what you think right and trust the purveyors of pomposity to go right along with you.

What’s particularly maddening is that the need to be seen and heard, which infects all politicians, carries down to the lowest level – our wide variety of social clubs. I find it spectacular that a fellow who wishes to suggest that we spend $20 on paper products has to announce himself to the President of the organization, stand up and launch into a ten or more minute exposition on the finances of the group vis a vis the current national economic position and how that relates to worldwide fluctuations in gold value and the speculative aspects of brazil nuts. Wouldn’t it have been much more simple and pleasing to everyone else just to say – if you need to be heard at all – that’s a damn fine idea! I make a motion, seconded and so moved?

We’d be able to get through meetings in 30 minutes, congressional sessions in mere months and maybe actually accomplish something at the U.N. in less than, what’s it been? 54 years?

So, democracy’s useless. A benevolent absolute monarchy is always the best choice – you just can’t rely on benevolence being a hereditary trait.

Bonus points if you catch the reference in the title. It nicely sums up my peroration.