Eric Hobsbawm describes this eloquently. [I'll put the exact quote here by evening!]. The birth of democracy meant the end of political honesty. Which politician was likely to tell his voters that they were foolish and incapable of deciding their future for themselves?

So, a bourgeois democracy typically throws up some scum -- the people who are most willing to cozy up to the powers, have the least integrity, are the most corrupt, the most vicious etc. These people then make pious statements and expect others to believe them!

So, as we all know Mr Bush imposed tariffs on imported steel. The EU held a gun to his head and threatened to slap billions of dollars of sanctions. So, Mr Bush repealed the tariffs. But hear the man speak:

George Bush: "US steel jobs have been given another chance to compete."
George Bush:"These safeguard measures have now achieved their purpose and, as a result of changed economic circumstances, it is time to lift them"

Our beloved Robert Zoellick(who performs the arm-twisting on behalf of the US at the WTO) exceeded Mr. Dubya:
"US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said the tariff decision had been made independently of the threat of retaliation by the EU. "[Emphasis added]

See the BBC story for some more hilarious quotes!