I would take not 8 but 80 years of Clinton versus 1 year under Saudi Arabia.
You are falling into what Hanson and Lee Harris use as their major point lately: the West got into a habit of requiring perfection out of itself. It's not possible. It's called Utopia precisely because its a neverland.
I take chaos of democracy versus authoritarian order anytime. Its frustrating, you bet! But nothing exist that is better. I can't stand Clinton, but I would not want to live under Putin or any Saudi princes.
> I take chaos of democracy versus authoritarian order anytime. Its frustrating, you bet!
Well, my post was half
tongue-in-cheek, but the point stands --
democracy works
pretty much only
when citizens have schooling
and shared common goals.
In the Middle East,
the "masses" have no schooling,
and are so split up
in warring factions
that "common goals" seems to mean
they all want to kill.
I am just not sure
democracy can work well
with those citizens.