MR AMERIKA SAMOA'S lectures (01 Feb, 26 Jan, 2010) on People Representatives' incompetency left me befuddled. Is he saying that Tongan politicians are incompetent, or are they "social engineers?"
First, Mr. Amerika Samoa lectured illogically from a premise that "Tonga's elusive democracy" is due to PRs' "lack of knowledge or experience at all with any legitimate democratic system."
The fallacy of his argument is based on: That one has to live under a democratic system of government to be a competent democratic leader. It is a flawed assumption. Using the American Revolution as an example would better illustrate the fallacy of his argument...
The American Founding Fathers were American born politicians; they did not come from any "legitimate democratic system." They grew up as British subjects of the monarchy system, but they yearned for a more democratic system for America.
It seems to me that is what we are doing in Tonga today. Through studying the writings of John Locke, Adam Smith, etc., and germinal works of Greeks and Roman philosophers, Americans preferred the idea of a "free society" as the foundation of all democratic systems.
Secondly, linking military service responsibilities to PRs' political responsibilities is comparing apples and oranges to me. Military service is a duty, but politics is a vocation.
For example, Mr. Amerika Samoa has no choice but to complete the terms of his "tour of duty," and he must pass rigorous tests to get a promotion.
Meanwhile, politicians can quit any time before completing their terms in office. Moreover, they can vote in hefty salaries for themselves, even if they habitually show up for work late, and are often absent.
Conclusion: Mr. Amerika Samoa would agree, however, that Tongan politicians seemed uncommitted to the "free society" ideals of a democratic government. They seemed more interested in "social engineering." If their goals are to satisfy their own selfish agendas, and are not based on the "free society" foundation of a democratic system, "Modern Tonga" will be a failed social engineering experiment.
