GOP "SECRET PRIMARY", FAKE DEMOCRACY AND HONG KONG PROTESTS

Today February 1, 2015 protesters returned to the streets of Hong Kong, tying up traffic and blocking passageways in the city's commercial district with their bright yellow umbrellas. The protests are a repeat of those of last year when Occupy Hong Kong built a protest camp in the center of the financial district and clashed violently with police. The demonstrations in the city, formerly a rich British colony (until 1999 when it became part of China) and world center of Asian financial operations, but now a semi autonomous part of China, are protesting China's plan for 2017 elections in the former colony. Beijing has indicated that in 2017 the former colony can have "democratic" elections just like they had under British rule...except that all candidates would have to be vetted first by Beijing officials. The protesters know that if Beijing decides who can run for elections, who the actual candidates will be...then the elections are a big sham. In fact, presently 40% of the seats in the current legislature are held by "pro-democracy" legislators who oppose China's move..but after 2017 they will not be on the ballot since they will not have permission from the big shots in Beijing. During the demonstrations the Hong Kong protesters raised a huge banner stating " Reject fake democracy, we want real universal suffrage."

Here in the USA as the nation begins to gear up for our 2016 elections there are no protests, no yellow umbrellas, no complaints from the electorate, no stories in the compliant mass media, no banners rejecting "fake democracy"..... but there should be. In the Democrat Party only one candidate exists...Mrs. Clinton, who has been apparently crowned by the party elite and now sits around in hiding making final adjustment to her tiara. Democrat voters have no choice there. In the Republican Party, the many hopeful candidates are being vetted (just like in Beijing) and decided upon right now with no input from the citizenry, or electorate, but only from a handful of Party elites on one hand, and big money donors (like the Koch brothers and others of similar ilk) on the other. Mr. Romney, the 2012 candidate, who was highest in early polls, expressed his desire to run again. But the elites in the Party in a Secret Primary rejected his candidacy and dashed his hopes and those of Americans who may have voted for him. (See also "Koch Primary" tests hopefuls in GOP --NY Times. Com). Once these big shots have made their decisions in "secret primarys" they magnanimously permit the public their "free and democratic elections". The electorate can "choose" whomever they want..but only from the previously vetted lists of candidates. It's just like in China...only the names and language are a bit different, but money and power make the call in the end.

I can only hope that the brave, determined and informed electorate in Hong Kong can persevere over the gangsters in Beijing. Here in the USA, the land of the "free and the brave"..I am less sanguine for reform or change taking place. Our electorate is apparently not so free, so smart or so brave...anymore.