From Allende to Syriza, money beats democracy every time

"We have a profound disagreement with the Cuban government when we talk about democracy and human rights," President Obama's representative said in Havana the other week. Except it's not true. In fact, the two governments actually see eye to eye on the matter. Neither of them gives a fig for either democracy or human rights until it happens to suit their real national interests. And when you think about it, isn't that true in practice for all governments that prate about higher causes? Just look at Canada's chummy relations with China, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, not to mention the contemptuous way Harperland treats democracy within Canada.