as it turns out, no one respects democracy anyway

i don't understand. i thought we were supposed to support democracy. yet when a foreign country elects a government not to our liking we demonise it and threaten to cut off support and diplomatic ties with it. we did this with arafat before, and now we're going to do it with hamas. nevermind that, unlike arafat and his corrupt fatah party, hamas was popularly elected and proposes to cut corruption and run an efficient, effective government. maybe such a thing is not in israel's interest, as an efficient, effective palestinian government would have to be taken more seriously, and might one day earn it the right to be heard in international forums, or at least when it comes to negotiating a solution to the ongoing conflicth with israel. personally, i can't defend this behavior, punishing voters for electing a government. it's not like it hasn't happened to us, or won't in the future. if we were dumb enough to elect a corrupt, abusive, power-mad government, do we still deserve to be punished for it? maybe we should be encouraged to vote better next time. maybe our government should be published, but not the voters.

personally, aside from their vow to destroy israel, i think hamas might be a better government than the republican party is right now. we'll see, but if it can cut corruption it's already a step up on the republicans. if it can avoid invading foreign countries without provocation or legitimate cause, then it's two steps up. if it can make palestine a well-governed country, well, then it does deserve respect.

who, besides iran and maybe china, will give it to them?