The MVP's Blog

Its a great day for democracy.

Its a great day for democracy.

It's a great day for the military effectively being in control...

http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2011/02/11/the-egyptian-military-regime/

The military in Egypt is a generally respected and nonpartisan group which will not bring about a harsh dictatorship as it has in other countries. The Egyptian people respect the military very much and if they put their trust in the military to run the country until proper elections are held, then that is all we can do. Give the military the benefit of the doubt until such a time as we see they are seizing power (which is unlikely). Free elections will be held in Egypt, no later than September.

It is a good day.

The military in Egypt is a generally respected and nonpartisan group which will not bring about a harsh dictatorship as it has in other countries.

Maybe. We will see. It depends on whether or not the military feels extremists are taking over.

Only in Egypt can the military assert even more control in what was already a military dictatorship and have it called "freedom".

I'm not at all optimistic about the long-term. (This is the Middle East, after all.)

Free elections will be held in Egypt, no later than September.

Baridei himself said on

NPR News today that September is too early. I tend to agree. The idea that Egypt is going to go from 30 -yrs of one-party dictatorial rule to a modern democracy in 7 months is wishful thinking. They might force it and give it a go as early as September, but I think the Egyptian people and the cheerleader press are going to be disappointed.

I love the, "Democracy is not for you, wait another 30 years" talk.

If the founding fathers of democracy saw you they'd be ashamed and appalled. These demonstrations wouldn't have happened if the people weren't ready and some of you (kingzog) dehumanizing the entire region really ticks me off.

Hey, it worked for 30 before

The simple fact of the matter is that successful democratic states are not born overnight, anywhere. It took America over 80 years from the failed Articles of Confederation to the Civil War. The idea that in 7 months Egypt is going to be this thriving, new, world-class democracy is a pipe dream. I submit that you cannot even form serious cohesive political parties in 7 months. 30% illiteracy and 42% unemployment aren't going away tomorrow because Mubarak is gone. The fact is that it is going to take years and even decades of work.

Yeah the whole revolution was spurned over fish sticks.

Democracy to come another day.

Bear in mind successful democracies require a willing civil society - and I hope that's what they've formed here. It is also not an imposed democratisation really, and if anything democratisation was imposed on the international community by the Egyptian people, and that does bode well for its ability to resist the inevitable spoilers and shocks that will come down the way. September is too soon for the full national elections though. Better that local elections occur and the values of the new Egypt are understood before electoral factions are allowed to duke it out, running smaller elections is a great way to iron out kinks and discover how national elections might be undermined.

....some of you (kingzog) dehumanizing the entire region really ticks me off.

You're absolutely right. I should be ashamed.

After 6,000 years of oligarchical rule of one kind or another and seemingly endless wars, and despite the current problems of overpopulation, illiteracy, widespread poverty and reliance on others to pay their bills, I'm sure that Egypt will become a shining example of democracy, liberty and prosperity any day now.

What could possibly go wrong?

There. Better?

You're absolutely right. I should be ashamed.

After 6,000 years of oligarchical rule of one kind or another and seemingly endless wars, and despite the current problems of overpopulation, illiteracy, widespread poverty and reliance on others to pay their bills, I'm sure that Egypt will become a shining example of democracy, liberty and prosperity any day now.

What could possibly go wrong?

There. Better?

You're right, we should just go down to despotism so your neo-classic Christian self can go to sleep easier at night.