America Against Democracy

Recently, FISA, Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court, was criticized for its shady behaviors with its court system and was accused of running like an authoritarian government. The National Security Agency also secretly redefined the word “relevant” in order to gather the majority of phone data on millions of Americans. This kind of action is, indeed, suspicious and brings up questions on what their true intentions are in doing such things. Why are our “supreme courts” going against the democracy-promotion that our presidents had pledged upon before? The article states that this keeps our national security in balance, which isn't something the average public can handle. Such dangerous tasks should be left in the hands of “the best and the brightest.”

It is true that there are some things that can not be open to the public, despite how hypocritical it would make America seem.  For example, when Edward Snowden released information about government mass surveillance programs, he was immediately criticized and charged for betraying the government, though technically democracy should not have secret information hidden from the public. Not only are we a democratic government which by definition should welcome "openness, transparency, public participation, [and] public collaboration," but our presidents have promised a democracy with "an unprecedented level of openness in Government... [to] establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration (Obama)." Though it is important to gain the voices of each and every Americans, not all decisions can be based on the majority vote made by the entire population. Our average citizens tend to follow along suit with others as long their reasoning sounds acceptable. It is definitely safer to leave some decisions to the brighter minds of America. Of course, there are a lot of bright yet corrupted minds but it would still rather be smarter to leave the balancing of our democratic government and national security to these minds than to the national population. The promise Obama made on working towards government openness was a rather silly promise that he himself should have known was not possible.

Our government is full of secrecy and there really is no question against it. There are much information that our leaders and "bright minds" find unsafe for the average Americans to handle. Even so, I still find FISA's appointment of its judges unconstitutional. They were hand-picked by one Supreme Court judge and were not even investigated by the Congress.

Article: http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2013/07/secret-government

Canada Train Blast: 13 Dead, About 40 Missing

Two days ago in Quebec, Canada, a train of seventy-three tanker cars transporting crude oil derailed into the town of Lac-Meganic. At least five of the cars exploded, destroying thirty buildings and injuring hundreds of citizens. When the site was cleared enough for investigators to go searching for bodies over the weekend, a total of thirteen dead bodies were found and forty were recorded missing. While some suspected an intentional criminal act, the train's owners believed the brakes were at fault.

When the train’s owners claimed that the most likely reason of the incident was brake failure, many people were angered by such a claim. Such emotions are not unreasonable considering the emphasis businesses are expected to put on safety regulations. Losing friends and family in an event that could have been prevented with a little more care is only obvious to incite anger and disbelief to those, who were also forced out of their homes for the same reason.

Railroad use for oil transportation has increased in both Canada and America, raising the question of the safety of this transportation system. Following this Quebec incident, which is the fourth freight train accident to happen in Canada this year alone, many have proposed the idea of an oil pipeline running from Canada across the United States as a safer way of transportation. Lafontaine, who lost three of his family members in this incident, implied that it is, indeed, time for a change by stating "we always wait for until there's a big accident to change things... well, today we've had a big accident, it's one of the biggest ever in Canada." Unfortunately, the possibility of change, as claimed by Lafontaine and seen through both historical and current events, can still only be suggested in the aftermath of such incidents, affecting the lives of those worldwide. 

Article URL
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-canada-derailment-13-dead-20130708,0,5955542.story