broad coalition in Afghanistan

As reported in the papers, the US govt is calling for a new govt in
Afghanistan, that includes representatives from many different factions.
A woman wrote a very insightful letter to the Denver Post today,
pointing out that, here in the US, we don't even have such a
representative govt, only Democrats and Republicans. How, then, she
pointed out, can we ask for something over there, that we don't even
have here? Well said...Hstick

----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Haverstick <STICK@...>

> As reported in the papers, the US govt is calling for a new govt in
> Afghanistan, that includes representatives from many different factions.
> A woman wrote a very insightful letter to the Denver Post today,
> pointing out that, here in the US, we don't even have such a
> representative govt, only Democrats and Republicans. How, then, she
> pointed out, can we ask for something over there, that we don't even
> have here? Well said...Hstick

And why do you think we call one branch of our goverment the House of
Representatives?

* David Beardsley
* http://biink.com
* http://mp3.com/davidbeardsley

--- In metatuning@y..., "Neil Haverstick" <STICK@U...> wrote:
> As reported in the papers, the US govt is calling for a new govt
in
> Afghanistan, that includes representatives from many different
factions.
> A woman wrote a very insightful letter to the Denver Post today,
> pointing out that, here in the US, we don't even have such a
> representative govt, only Democrats and Republicans. How, then, she
> pointed out, can we ask for something over there, that we don't even
> have here? Well said...Hstick

I sympathize with your position, but the fact remains, 96% of
Americans who vote, vote either Democratic or Republican. I feel
strongly we need to better enfranchise minorities, implement campaign
finance reform, and plenty of other measures to weaken the two-party
duopoly. But ultimately it all comes down to voters' habits -- you
can't blame our system of democracy itself.

In Afghanistan there are some clear-cut divisions by ethnic group and
religious sect, and all of these groups need to be represented in the
new government -- otherwise we're likely to see a reprise of the
horrors that the Taliban, as well as their predecessors, committed
against those of opposing groups. What I'm worried about is the
prospect of women having no voice in the new government, and the
possibility that therefore atrocities will continue against half the
population of Afghanistan.