Linkmeister

I was thinking that, at the core, ordinary people want just a few things from their elected officials: honesty, basic services, and safety.

It is those desires, I think, that will pull Hamas toward responsible government in both internal and external affairs.

That, and the billions of aid from the EU and US that is contigent upon a continued peace process.

This might be a first; you're more optimistic than I am.

I am optimistic because the one real virtue of democracy is that it is a workable feedback system.

Under the PLO, people felt that things were out of their hands - - that the corruption, the spoils, even discussions with Israel were all something that they could not affect.

Now, maybe Hamas will clean up corruption. That's
good.

Maybe they'll refuse to make peace and step up attacks against Israel. That's bad in the very short run, but good when a feedback mechanism is in place.

The feedback of elections means that democracy works whether the policies their representatives select are good or bad. If they're to the electorate's liking, the representatives will be re-elected. If they're not, they'll be booted out and, in extreme cases, wholly discredited.

That is why I am optimistic in the long run.

Well, there's the "one man, one vote, one time" fear people have, and there's also the mischief one group can get up to before the next election. In extreme cases, that might mean a war with Israel, which wouldn't be all that good for the region.

Your pessimism is echoed by a writer at Slate, albeit for entirely different reasons.

AAAAGH! Hitchens and I agree on something? ;)

Hitchens

An odd duck, indeed. I think a third of the time I agree with him, another 3rd I don;t, and the last third I wonder about his taste in adult beverages.

"The effect of liberty to individuals is, that they may do what they please; we ought to see what it will please them to do, before we risk congratulations."

-- Edmund Burke