There is a global political party that is constantly growing in all industrialized countries: the Non-Voters.

Their excuses are always the same: all politicians are scum bags anyway and their vote doesn’t make a difference. Only a few of them are honest enough to say that they don’t care or are simply to lazy.

Democracy depends on all our participation: even when you only need to make a cross or press your lazy thumb on a computer screen.

Always remember: you are always involved in society and the political process. If you want it or not. So if you are too lazy to participate in the process in any other way than voting - like by joining a political party or union or giving money to some pressure groups - then at least make that damn cross.

Ignorance is an ACTIVE invitation for sleazy politicians to do what they want. If you decide to sleep they won’t wait till you wake up and smell their evil coffee.

The crew of Jibjab.com have been producing great stuff for years, but for some odd reason this video is currently all over the intrawebs. But it’s brilliant!

There should be more political satire.

Some words of sanity compared to McCain’s dribble.

BBC News: AU treads softly on Zimbabwe

It is easy to hate hate and condemn Robert Mugabe - and he deserves every bit of it. Since the last election it should be bloody obvious to anyone that he is an old tyrant clinging to power by any means necessary.

But African leaders - many of them dubious characters - don’t have the backbone to deal with this monster. Africa loves to hate Europe for it’s colonial mistakes and America for their modern imperialism. But currently it’s mostly Africans abusing other Africans.

Once again it shows that establishing "good systems" like Democracy without a supporting culture and historically grown structures simply doesn’t work.

Especially in Africa tribalism and capitalism make an explosive mixture. Tribal loyalties trump any laws or common sense. But this is also a long term consequence of all these artificial countries in Africa: Europe brutally forced many tribes into artificial "Nations" which never before existed. Many of these mixed up countries are still struggling to "function". Maybe some form of continental reshuffle would be helpful?

The Economist: An ugly victory

Russia is a tragedy - after Communism these people would deserve a break from nasty politicians, abuse and false promises. But only the names and labels seem to have changed.

Sure - it looks like Putin has recovered Russia’s economy fortunes - but that isn’t true. Already before his first election it was on a rebound. Today the state controlled economy is back - and the country is even more addicted to oil than the US. Russia’s current upswing is solely based on it’s energy exports. Under Putin all other industries have suffered and repressions are considered worse now than before he took power. So all that talk that he sorted out Russia for good is rubbish.

I personally think that American right wing attack dogs are very embarrassing for this great nation. They often are the very essence that smears America and has reduced it to a second rate country: greed, incompetence, distraction, war mongering, fear mongering, hate of others and most of all hypocrisy.

The GOP is obsessed with fighting causes that are irrelevant and don’t matter. Who cares if someone can burn the American flag or not? Who cares if gay people can marry or not? Who cares if Obama wear that bloody pin or not?

These issues are (brilliant) distractions from important stuff: America educational system (no child left behind?), the rampant militarism (no money for body armor, but for shiny new Star Wars systems), the pork & waste in Government bills (need a bridge to nowhere dude?) and care for the environment (the jury is still out on global warming and evolution).

The biggest shame is - that so many Americans still listen and CARE for these issues. The dumb discussions really have dumbed down American political culture as well (if you have ever read a speech made by Lincoln or any other great American president you know what this country is capable of).

Populism is certainly not an US invention, but they really made an new artform out of it.

Did McCain have an affair? Nah, not really interesting.

But I actually think such little squabbles will do him some good, because it implies that he still “got it”. In our hierarchical societies symbolism still is important - and nobody really wants an impotent leader. The countries top dog should also be a top sperm spreader.

Politics is a lot about symbolism. One thing people expect from the leader of the pack is vitality, health and potency. That is why kids and wives are always dragged onto the political stage to prove that these politicians are strong males and provide well for their offspring.

Many pundits and voters perceived McCain (now 71) before the vote as too old. He was considered ’seasoned’ when he ran for the big office back in 2000 against President Shrub.

But in contrast to Obama (aged 46) he is an old fart - and his disability from being tortured in Vietnam doesn’t help either. No matter how often McCain drags his stone old mother onto the political stage - he doesn’t stand a chance against the fresh looking Obama and his jumpy two kids.

After Super Tuesday John McCain seems to be the winner and candidate for the American Republicans to run for President. Although Mike Huckabee is currently #2 I don’t think he will be the running mate as Vice President.

Joe Lieberman has been very happy to ’schmooze’ with the GOP since his recent reelection in 2006 and he is a big buddy of McCain. Plus on many issues he is more hawkish than many Republicans. As an Independent and former Democrat he sure would cover a wide spectrum of votes and interests

I think this can only be countered by a Hillary-Obama-Ticket. But who will take the second seat?

Tribal loyalties, corruption and witchcraft still reign supreme in African culture. Such blatantly rigged elections are not just an African problem - Putin’s recent reelection was as ignorant of the law and the democratic process as well.

But as long as African politicians and voters have no problem of using violence to get what they want - this sad affair of corruption and violence won’t end. Poverty, lack of education and tribal loyalties create a combustive mixture - and a life seems worth nothing.

But we also have to blame colonial powers and foreign aid money for the chaos.

Many countries were literally made up on the drawing board by colonial powers - thy often mixed tribes together, who didn’t like each other to form a ‘nation’. Many of today’s conflicts go back to these tribal roots and difference in culture.

Foreign aid is another problem, because the large sums for money are a huge temptation for fraud. Many western donators hardly care or control where the money goes and many local charities that receive the money are made up by local big wigs and fraudsters. This kind of culture is based on cheating each other - not by creating a working economy and improving the life for everyone.

2007 was a bad year for Democracy - and it looks like that 2008 will continue that trend.

This years presidential election is a nice soap opera - it has action, drama and even some tears. Apart from America’s arcane procedures this still is a democracy at work - compared to recent elections in Kenya or Russia.

But it also shows the flaws of the popular vote: you have to say what people want to hear. These days Obama created the buzzword ‘change’ - so now all candidates babble about change. And all the talk is without substance, because foggy visions allow everyone to project their own idea of ‘change’ onto the candidate.

Is Hillary an agent of change? Actually she is - and she also know from experience how hard it is to change the system. Compared to Obama she has fought many harsh battles against companies, the establishment and the political system.

Compared to the 90’s she is now deeply wired into the political system - and now she has influence, knows how to pull the right strings and endure the agony of making change.

I very much doubt that Obama has these connections and know how to play the system. Because playing the system is important. Look at Dick Cheney or Carl Rove - they are masters in that profession. They have been playing the system for their masters and political goals so perfectly.

What America needs is someone who can dig deep, who is well connected and WANTS to change the system this time for the people instead of companies and the military industrial complex.

If you look back at inexperienced NEW political leaders - they all waste at least one or two years before they get a hold on power and understand the game. And often they fail to change anything in that time, because if Obama would loose that amount of time American voters would be frustrated and send many Republicans to the House and Senate - which in turn will block any change.

As a non-American one has to follow US politics closely - because anything these people vote for has serious - and I really mean serious - consequences for the rest of the world.

Thanks to MSNBC’s live stream I was able to watch the whole drama unfold last night (thanks to MSNBC for being so kind and allowing foreigner to watch their video as well - many American media outlets block foreigners).

Overall I am not the least bit surprised about the current state of affairs - and the obvious conclusions. (I know that this is only the first state of over 50 to cast their votes.)

America’s so called conservatives haven’t learned a bit from the dreadful Bush experience - nor have the Democrats.

Where is our next Christian Preehehehesident?!

Once again the born again citizens have pushed the next professional Christians to the top. Huckabee came out as the top dog followed by the equally christy Romney. Once again the religious affiliation reigns superior. The sheep demand a Shepard.

The Bush White House has hardly delivered any of the goods the evangelicals wanted, he didn’t fight poverty, nor did he overturn unpopular abortion laws. But still these religious people believe another one of ‘them’ will fix it this time.

On the Democrat’s side the picture is equally bleak. I consider Obama as the ultimate liberal excuse and fantasy: he is young like Kennedy and represents the biggest black icon Martin Luther King. This is a terrible addiction to symbols of the past, because neither Kennedy nor King did ‘finish’ their projects. And they both had some serious political deficits.

A small sidenote: I find it really strange that most popular Democratic icons (Clinton, Kennedy & King) are womanizers.

He is dead - get over it Democrats.

So America’s voters are still addicted to the same old qualities that make no sense in politics at all: likeability and electability.

Once again they are looking for a person that everybody likes - once again the search for the beer buddy. (Remember when they sold Bush to Americans as the presidential candidate you want to have a drink with?).

Electability is even worse. It just means finding a person that looks presidential enough to be elected. It does NOT mean finding the person who is best suited for the job.

Go for the transvestite: President and First Lady in one person!

That is why experienced leaders like John McCain, Joe Biden and to a certain degree Hillary Clinton did so badly in the polls. Also the analyses of the voter’s decision process shows that they give a shit about political experience and good (international) network to make things happen.

They want change - whatever that is to them.

Apart from unelectable ‘weirdos’ like Ron Paul and Denis Kucinich none of the candidates have shown any solid ideas or visions - nor commitment - for true change - just more of the same.

All that talk about health care and getting out of Iraq is just that - cheap talk. None of them really touched farm subsidies, a REAL energy policy, a reduction of military spending and a working solution for immigration. Not to speak of breaking up big media, a real reform of the educational system, etc. …

Overall America is still entrenched in it’s ignorant ways: it’s voters as much as it’s politicians. It doesn’t matter if the president will be Hillary, Obama, Romney or Huckabee - the military industrial complex will grind on without mercy. American troops will still be in Iraq in 2010, Americans will continue to guzzle oil in huge amount and the decline of the country will take up even more speed.

A new President will just change the face of Americanism - and maybe a Democrat will do some ’stuff’ to soften the social and economic pressure on Americans, but the system itself will be  untouched. And most of the draconian laws and limited civil liberties will stay in place.

BBC News: Russians vote in general election  

An election of superlatives: 11 time zones, 107 million voters, 95.000 voting stations, 300 international observers, 450.000 policeman ‘guarding’ the elections, eleven parties to choose from and one clear winner already - Putin.

Russia’s power elites and oligarch have the country firm in their grip. There is no free press, there is no choice and there is no democratic exchange.

A sad day for Democracy!