we must invade Iraq because if we did not act soon... very soon... Iraq and its leader, Saddam Hussein... would do some very bad stuff to us – no need to fill in the details there, you can use your own imaginations. Preventive war? Imposed democracy? The world made safe for our values? These notions are antithetical to the very definitions of "democracy." What has happened in America? What would people like Hannah Arendt and Raymond Aron have to say about these latest crises in the Republic?
             Democracy is defined as government by the people. The United States is not an absolute democracy, but a republic, meaning that the people of the United States elect representatives to govern the nation on their behalf. Men and women campaign for the offices they hold. The purpose of these campaigns is to provide the voters i.e. the adult citizens of the United States with information about themselves, and their policies. Political candidates talk about their personal values and their plans for America's future. They attempt to give the public at least a general idea of what they will do if elected to office. It is assumed that, during these campaigns, the information provided by candidates will be accurate and truthful. A candidate's ability to fulfill the responsibilities of office, his or her knowledge, honesty, and integrity are extremely important factors. These same qualities are still required even after the winner of the campaign assumes his or her position in government. Lying to the public is a matter of grave concern. Politicians lie all the time. They make promises they have no intention of keeping. They distort facts and figures to make their enemies look bad and to make themselves look g
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