When push comes to shove

About a year ago we had a ridiculous amount of contestants for the top seat in government. There were twenty two presidential candidates representing the same number of political parties. The amount of acronymns flying around the media alone made me disheartened. Why you ask? Because this was typical for our beloved country. Everyone wants to become president, no one wants to do the hard work. Of the numerous parties available at the time, what distinguished between the parties programs and ambitions. Basically nothing. In the end, the personal cults around the most popular politicians prevailed. Now, a full year later, the National Election Commision, in accordance with the constitution, is requesting annual reports and commencing inspection of parties headquarters.

All of a sudden, where did all the parties go. Have they disappeared into thin air? It looks that way, so come the next presidential election in five years time, beware of the false prophets and do not forget to ask about their ideology.

When the cat is away....

Once again, as soon as our president is out of the country the trouble starts. What trouble you say. The trouble where certain elements decide to start making their own laws to please their own purposes. For example a statement from Star Radio issued yesterday. "The government of Liberia says some members of the Liberia Marketing Association are planning to demonstrate against the restructuring of the association. A government statement issued, warned any group planning such demonstration to desist. The statement issued by the office of the Vice President warned that anyone engaged in such demonstration would face the full weight of the law." I would like to know which law is being threatened upon these potential demonstrators. Do we now have a law that states that it is illegal to demonstrate? Seriously, what this statement says is that "I am the Vice President, I can order the police to come and deal with all of you if you do not conform to my wishes." Is this democracy? Somebody please inform the old man that we are in the year 2006.