Wrong for foreigners to influence democracy?

[Stunt]

So I've been contemplating actively campaigning for the next presidential candidate; i think the US is at a crossroads and the next few elections will either elevate the US to greater success or snowball to its demise.

As a Canadian and firm believer in capitalist democracies, I support the success of the US and understand the huge importance of the US on many issues and relationships.

That being said, I have been critical in the past of foreigners influencing domestic issues such as:
Russia in Ukraine
US cou's in the americas
US propoganda sent to Canada (both sides)

list goes on forever. Fact is many countries have been outspoken on matters outside their country...is this a good thing or a bad thing??

Remember this goes both ways and you cannot endorse just the one side (ie. Europe/Canada outspoken against Bush last election, US involvement in the international community)

 

[IronWing]

I have mixed feelings about this. I tend to think that open engagement is okay like an ad with "a message from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia " stamped on the bottom. Secret support for political parties like the USSR's support of Communist Party USA or US support for ARENA skews the democratic process by giving a party greater resources than their constituency could support.

 

[ntdz]

I don't neccisarily think it's wrong, no. Now if the President of Venezuala were to buy up TV ads calling Bush a liar, thief and that he wanted to attack Venezuala, I wouldn't be too happy.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: ntdz
I don't neccisarily think it's wrong, no. Now if the President of Venezuala were to buy up TV ads calling Bush a liar, thief and that he wanted to attack Venezuala, I wouldn't be too happy.

I think that would be okay if the ads clearly stated that the government of Venezuala was paying for them.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: ntdz
I don't neccisarily think it's wrong, no. Now if the President of Venezuala were to buy up TV ads calling Bush a liar, thief and that he wanted to attack Venezuala, I wouldn't be too happy.

I'd laugh at them personally.

 

[Strk]

I wouldn't mind, but like others have said, it should be clearly said where the adds are coming from. (Like how politicians have to do it with the "I'm <name> and I approve this message.")

 

[sandorski]

Offering opinions is ok, but Money or other support(Intel, promises, etc) would be unacceptable.

 

[Rainsford]

We live in a world where the decisions made by one country will almost certainly affect others, so it seems reasonable to say that foreigners have a stake in the democratic process of a country. In the end I believe this will lead to some kind of global government, but for the moment I don't think it's "wrong" for them to exert some influence.

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: ntdz
I don't neccisarily think it's wrong, no. Now if the President of Venezuala were to buy up TV ads calling Bush a liar, thief and that he wanted to attack Venezuala, I wouldn't be too happy.

Ok for expressing the idea that he could attack venezuela. But if you call somebody liar and thief you need proof, or you can face legal retaliation.

 

[Jhhnn]

Yeh, well, influencing democracy is a helluva lot better than staging coups and setting up dictators, training their security forces, financing their use of force against their own populations to serve your own interests...

Of course, nobody would do that, particularly not a nation that represents itself as a democracy...

And nothing like that ever happened in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Chile, Iran or anywhere else, right?

Hell, having free elections is easy, when the opposition are all dead or locked up...

 

[2cpuminimum]

There is nothing wrong with foreign ad campaigns that are honest and not deceptive in nature. Deceptive and dishonest ad campaigns are the devil.

 

[dardin211]

Originally posted by: Tango

Originally posted by: ntdz
I don't neccisarily think it's wrong, no. Now if the President of Venezuala were to buy up TV ads calling Bush a liar, thief and that he wanted to attack Venezuala, I wouldn't be too happy.

Ok for expressing the idea that he could attack venezuela. But if you call somebody liar and thief you need proof, or you can face legal retaliation.

Well, it would be done like any political ad, you wouldn't straight say "liar" or "thief" but you would state/show examples of this. Basically using the typical half truths that all political ads use. Although in the case of Bush, I don't think a half truth would really be needed. :disgust:

 

[Titan]

We all live in the world our neighbors make for us.