It is somewhat strange and more than a touch ironic that the country, who more than any other in the modern age, has trumpeted the values of freedom, liberty and democracy has allowed its politicians to shut down government to the clear detriment of the electorate.

Still, as one of America’s greatest presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt, said –

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education”.

The former president was, of course, talking about an educated electorate choosing wisely but a little wisdom among the clearly uneducated politicians in Congress wouldn’t go amiss either!

One of my personal favourite quotes on democracy is from Oscar Wilde who, distorting the words of America’s founding fathers, said–

“Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people”.

Whatever view you take on the shenanigans of American politics, the events of the last few weeks have hardly been the best advertisement for the virtues of democracy.