From: aksimha@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Arun Simha)
Subject: Democracy - by Johnny Carson
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 16:16:53 GMT


    Hi,
       This appeared in the Carson show as part of his monologue. I
       am posting it in this forum, verbatim. Thanks to Anjan Bellur
       for digging up the article. I recall that this show was the one
       which took place just after the attempted coup in the Soviet Union.


Arun
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 A tribute from Johnny Carson to all the Soviet republics seeking freedom 
 ("The Battle Hymn of the Republic" playing softly in the background).
 
 "What Democracy Means to Me" by Johnny Carson
 
 To me, democracy means placing trust in the little guy, giving the 
 fruits of nationhood to those who built the nation.   Democracy means 
 anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who doesn't grow up can 
 be vice president.
 Democracy is people of all races, colors, and creeds united by a single 
 dream: to get rich and move to the suburbs away from people of all 
 races, colors, and creeds.   Democracy is having time set aside to 
 worship -- 18 years if you're Jim Bakker.
 Democracy is buying a big house you can't afford with money you don't 
 have to impress people you wish were dead.  And, unlike communism, 
 democracy does not mean having just one ineffective political party; it 
 means having two ineffective political parties.
 Democracy means freedom of sexual choice between any two consenting 
 adults; Utopia means freedom of choice between three or more consenting 
 adults.  But I digress.  Democracy is welcoming people from other lands, 
 and giving them something to hold onto -- usually a mop or a leaf blower.  
 It means that with proper timing and scrupulous bookkeeping, anyone can 
 die owing the government a huge amount of money.
 Democracy means a thriving heartland with rolling fields of Alfalfa, 
 Buckwheat, Spanky, and Wheezer.   Democracy means our elected officials 
 bow to the will of the people, but more often they bow to the big butts 
 of campaign contributors.
 Yes, democracy means fighting every day for what you deserve, and 
 fighting even harder to keep other weaker people from getting what they 
 deserve.   Democracy means never having the Secret Police show up at 
 your door.   Of course, it also means never having the cable guy show up 
 at your door.   It's a tradeoff.   Democracy means free television, not 
 good television, but free.
 Democracy is being able to pick up the phone and, within a minute, be 
 talking to anyone in the country, and, within two minutes, be interrupted
 by call waiting.
 Democracy means no taxation without representation, and god knows, we've 
 just about had the hell represented out of us.  It means the freedom to 
 bear arms so you can blow the "o" out of any rural stop sign you want.
 And finally, democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with 
 13 arrows in one claw, 13 leaves on a branch, 13 tail feathers, and 13 
 stars over its head--this signifies that when the white man came to this 
 country, it was bad luck for the Indians, bad luck for the trees, bad 
 luck for the wildlife, and lights out for the American eagle.
 I thank you.  


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