Elected dictatorship and elected oligarchy – battle cry of the ‘new opposition’

Jul 12, 2010 Letters

DEAR Editor,

I find it very amusing at the ‘new opposition’s’ constant spewing of new political terms for the Jagdeo Administration; in fact, it is almost like a puerile tirade. And then I thought that if the Administration was really a dictatorship, fairly tyrannical, then this ‘new opposition’ would be unable to deliver its sermon of invectives via the mass media.

But they do so quite often; for that reason, I surmise that there is not a dictatorship office here. Of course, fascism is another story, quite devastating to the mind. I will return to fascism when I have some time to reflect on ‘new opposition’s’ sordid humour, as I attempt to eke out some kind of pleasant comedic value from it, assuming there are pleasantries in its comedy.

Then, indeed, I see this new being ‘elected oligarchy’, meaning ‘rule by the few’, I suspect. Well, I do not wish to indulge in ‘elected oligarchy’ today, perhaps, tomorrow.

But for today, I merely want to say that if Guyana is an ‘elected oligarchy’, then Guyana is in good company, at least theoretically. How so?

Professor Joan Tronto of Hunter College/City University of New York considers the U.S. political system an American oligarchy.

Professor Anderson of the World Peace Academy refers to the U.S. as an oligarchy where the oligarchy is subverting democracy. Professors Phillip Green and Drucilla Cornell refer to the U.S. as a representative oligarchy. Harry New describes the U.S. Senate as a Senatorial Oligarchy. And Professor Donald Nonini of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, sees the U.S. rule as kleptokratic oligarchy.

Well, if Guyana really fits this new opposition’s label of elected oligarchy, then it is in good company, as the U.S has been doing well with its oligarchic practices for some time now.

Nonetheless, rule by the few is not new and characterizes most forms of government, but we need to ensure that rulers gain power through public backing.

Perhaps, I will indulge myself in these concepts once the sordid humour resurfaces, but there must be some pleasantries.

Prem Misir