Asbestos coated leaders

It is curious that a number of world leaders and their lackeys are up to their armpits in allegations of playing fast and loose with their responsibilities. It is equally curious that most will walk into history untouched.
An exception, if you can call losing government a penalty, is the former Canadian Liberal government. Oh there will be penalties aplenty in Canada, but the can there is to be carried by non-politicos like soon to be sentenced advertising executive, Jean Brault.
I Australia PM Howard and his team seem to lurch from one drama to the next, with nary a stain on their collective shirts. The incompetence, ducking and weaving and just plain dishonesty are mind-blowing, perhaps the secret of their success; ‘Keep it too complex for the majority to follow.’
Britain’s Blair has finally been wounded by his ‘peers for cash’ scandal, but is playing by the current rules; ‘no fear, no admission, no responsibility.’ Analysts say that Blair will need to be caught with the now ubiquitous smoking gun in hand before he flinches.
George W lives amid a dizzying swirl of scandal and allegation. Even so some observers reflect on an historic comeback, ignoring Nixon of course, following the fourth quarter congressional elections of their terms.
I’m starting to believe anything when it comes to public reactions. To express my most deeply cynical beliefs; politicians, aka lawmakers, can and do largely immunize themselves against the law. They, more than anyone, will argue technicality in place of innocence, and most often win.
The real test, the mother of all tests; is yet to visit the above named leaders. Not that I am willing to suggest the asbestos coated paragons will not simply walk through the fire of Iraq unscathed.
As the truth about their Iraq misadventure slowly leaks to the wider public and that hapless country fragments into total chaos, voters will be forced to ask why we were drawn into this mess on a raft of lies.
But sadly, I believe the whole story will be too complex for most people to be able to sustain the required concentration. At best it will signal a changing of the guard, the same ethics with different badges. Life will limp on in our wounded ‘pseudo democracies’ much like it always has.

Which brings me to the point I guess: Today I am posting the first of a series of mental meanderings on democracy. Are we kidding ourselves or can it really work. First I intend to reflect on some real life situations, then perhaps – if I can sustain the concentration – look at the reality of our democratic processes.