Consent of the Governed (Hal Cohen)

  One of the most important documents written in our nation’s history for the international community is the Declaration of Independence.

  Hal Cohen -- World News Trust

  June 27, 2009 -- One of the most important documents written in our nation’s history for the international community is the Declaration of Independence.  It established, in law, the chief responsibilities of a government, and the conditions under which a people can dissolve the contract between a government and its people.

  The Magna Carta was an agreement between nobles and a monarch that essentially said that if you want to tax us, ask us, the Declaration extended that requirement for permission to every citizen.  It says explicitly that the government’s chief function is to protect the rights of the citizenry, and when the people feel that the government fails this obligation it is not only right but proper for the people to dissolve the government.

  What we have been witnessing in Iran over the past two weeks is exactly this concept in action.  The Iranian people have been saying to the government, “You no longer have our consent.”  It is important to frame it in just this way.  No government can rule without the consent of its subjects.  Many regimes obtain that consent through force, or fear, or coercion, or bribery, to name a few illicit methods, but the result is that the people do consent.

  New York Times Columnist Thomas Friedman has said on many occasions that the Iranian People have had enough democracy to know they want more and enough theocracy to know they want less.  While we are seeing the truth of that statement borne out, even Mr. Friedman did not predict what we are witnessing today.  There has long been an uneasy understanding that whereas the Clergy hold ultimate power, the people are allowed to express their voice.

  The perception of a free election was the price the Clerics paid for the consent of the people.  The people consented even though the Clergy would limit the choices.  On June 12, 2009, however, that perception was obliterated.  An election that was expected to be close was declared a landslide victory by the establishment candidate long  before the votes could reasonably be counted.

  Imagine going into a store to buy a Diamond.  You know going in that you are actually going to get a Cubic Zirconium,   However, this has been the grand bargain that has been struck, and you are willing to settle for it.  Now, after you pay the money, they hand you a plastic replica and say, “Deal with it.”  You had agreed to a bad deal in good faith and your government says "too bad."

  President Obama rightly said that in terms of U.S.-Iranian relations, there was not much difference between Mir Hussain Moussavi and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Ayatollah Khamenei, however, had already thrown his lot behind Ahmadinejad.  In Fencing, competitors learn early on that holding the grip too tightly is a sure way of losing your weapon.  Since the election, Khamenei has tightened his grip.  As a result he has lost whatever legitimacy he had with his people. 

  True democracy may not be coming to Iran anytime soon.  The people may ultimately be cowed into giving their consent.  I hope not.  The one thing that is true is that the contract between the government and the people has been shredded and a new one will have to be drawn up.

  Hal Cohen is editor and publisher of Mollynyc.co