Mr. Obama is travelling to the middle east with a message of democracy, rule of law, and human rights for all citizens. Fortunately for politicians and lawyers there is no tax on words so they can endlessly spout big sounding sentences without really meaning any of it. Throughout the world democracy has come to mean periodic marking of a piece of paper after which politicians are at liberty to do whatever they please. At the bottom of the league of nations are countries like Zimbabwe, North Korea and China which allow no freedom at all and any opposition to the ruling junta will get you into prison and even killed. Just above are countries such as Egypt and Iran where people are allowed to travel in and out but not to criticise the rulers. The majority of countries are a mishmash of freedom and repression. From outward appearance India would appear to be totally free but a freeloading press, controlled police and a judiciary that drags cases for decades means that there is no law and those in power can and do get away with murder. Even in countries which preach democratic values through megaphones it is much the same. Thus, in Britain, the murderers of Stephen Lawrence got away scot free and the coroner would not allow a verdict of unlawful killing against the police in the execution of De Menezes. In the US, the President and all the members of the House and Senate quake before the National Rifle Association, a right wing organisation which has put the right of gun ownership above the right to life. Different problems in each country but no true liberty for the people. It is time we have citizens' corporations which protect our rights and hold politicians to account. I cannot imagine any politician agreeing to that.