Bad at war, good at democracy

Simon Jenkins

November 7, 2006 01:32 PM

America thinks itself good at war and is bad at it. America thinks itself bad at democracy and is good at it, very good.

Every time I visit America at election time I am left exhilarated by the sheer, pulverising potency of its democracy. Nowhere on earth are the mighty brought so low, nowhere is power so tested by fire. Yet ABC news this morning could announce judgment day with the downbeat message that it was "the nastiest mid-term election in history."

Nasty is right. Within two minutes of turning on my television I hear "Andrew Cuomo is lying", Bob Menendez is supported by kickback hoodlums, worst calumny of all, Thomas Kean "supports George Bush". Almost everyone is in favour of killing babies, rupturing stem cells and torturing Iraqis. The corridors of power are awash in corruption, adultery, mendacity and sin. The torrent of abuse is relentless and, to those used to the bland hustings of European oligarchy, gloriously refreshing.