Imagine I'm the president of La Republica Del Platano, a tiny nation somewhere in South America. Every 5 years we hold elections because that's what Washington wants, so who am I to disagree? Besides, I know the people of Del Platano will support me because, well... I have a winning smile, a firm handshake, and a very pretty wife who likes to sing on national television!

Now, everyone in Del Platano was very happy and liked to sing along with my wife, until this young troublemaker Rafael Acosta came along and started stirring them up. Now I have a problem, because this upstart indio wants to run for president, and the polls say he might win! Dios mio! What can I do? I call Washington, but the line is busy, so it looks like I'm on my own.

But wait! Right next door is the impoverished nation of Mogambo. Now, many Mogambitos are migrant workers who actually live in Del Platano, even though they're not supposed to. So, stroke of presidential genius! Just before the election, I grant full citizenship to every Mogambito living in Del Platano! Oh, and I give them all a little house to live in too, because I'm such a generous presidente! Now who do you think they'll vote for in the next election?

The irony here is, our own host country, a so-called Banana Republic, recently managed to have a free and democratic election. So, why can't we do the same? What sort of example are we setting for these people anyway? Canadians, no less! Can you believe that? Maybe we need a Citizen's Revolution of our own, eh?

ebear