Is Democracy Doomed? Poem by James Bredin

These days, journalists are all writing about democracy,
A mixture of bureaucracy theocracy audacity,
Where the aristocracy may still hold most of the power,
If the old dictator can hold on and the others cower.

Because democracy can be bent in many many ways,
And those in power want to stay there forever always,
Therefore democracy should have several stipulations,
Regardless of how many in the mob have impatience.

Binding referendums and recall should be part of the scheme,
And set-date elections nailed down for each and every regime,
Proportional representation built into every election,
So special interest party groups can’t control the selection.

And all citizens over eighteen should be compelled to vote,
So several party members don’t have us all by the throat,
So democracy is spread everywhere evenly all around,
And not just a name inside another UN compound.

Feb 2nd,2011