Is democracy the only good form of government?

[Atlannia]

that whole thing about partitioning Russia got me thinking, about this specifically

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_number

The theory is that for primates you can link ideal troupe number to brain size, beyond that number their stupid primate brains can't really identify anything as a troupe member on the same level, like it won't bother memorizing where it likes to be groomed specifically or its favourite termite species to eat (primates eat termites right?) anyway the interesting part is supposedly we have a limit like that too, it's about 150. Like, imgainge everything you know about your best friend, or even a friend, now imagine knowing all that about everyone in your country, or even your town. Beyond that you don't really see them as people, it's like that depressing Stalin quote "one death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic"
So, I guess what I'm saying is that if you split everyone into groups of 150 actual real democracy might be possible, like politicians might be less inclined to screw over people if they have to deal with them every day on a face to face basis, hell people might be inclined to actually be nice to each other, how crazy is that right?

(pretty crazy because implementing something like this is nowhere near feasible)

[Ecans]

Democracy requires (among other things) a well educated population in order to work...or at least a large percentage must be educated. Ignorant people fall easily for populist politicians who promise everything and deliver "one man, one vote, one time".

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Democracy requires (among other things) a well educated population in order to work...or at least a large percentage must be educated. Ignorant people fall easily for populist politicians who promise everything and deliver "one man, one vote, one time".

Thank you! That's what I have been saying the whole time. Democracy does not work without an educated, intellgent, informed populace.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

Democracy requires (among other things) a well educated population in order to work...or at least a large percentage must be educated. Ignorant people fall easily for populist politicians who promise everything and deliver "one man, one vote, one time".

Oh my God yes! I totally agree.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Democracy requires (among other things) a well educated population in order to work...or at least a large percentage must be educated. Ignorant people fall easily for populist politicians who promise everything and deliver "one man, one vote, one time".

Oh my God yes! I totally agree.

Funny. Are you actually a Communist, or Socialist?

[Indira]

If you think so is it right to instill democracy on nations by force.

It's hard to see how you could make a better, fairer system, but no it should not be forced.

[Greater Evil Imperial Japanese Dystopia]

If you think so is it right to instill democracy on nations by force.

No, democracy is not a good form,
No, it should not be forced upon anyone either.

[Oceanic people]

Not by a long shot! Democracy is a necesssarily degenerate form of government. The United States, for instance, was not created as a democracy but a Republic. It is the residue of our once great Republic that has enabled this country to last as long as it has. Push to repeal the 17th Amendment and restore the Republic! Write your Congressmen and Senators today!

[The Nuclear Fist]

Not by a long shot! Democracy is a necesssarily degenerate form of government. The United States, for instance, was not created as a democracy but a Republic. It is the residue of our once great Republic that has enabled this country to last as long as it has. Push to repeal the 17th Amendment and restore the Republic! Write your Congressmen and Senators today!

Have you ever lived in an undemocratic country?

[Grenville]

mixed blessing.

I've won elections, it's pretty gratifying to see that your country is democratic. That good citizens make good decisions... But sometimes, some citizens, in their ignorance from the political world, elect the wrong people based on dirty ads. That's pretty sad, I hope democracies can perfectionate.

[The USOT]

Not by a long shot! Democracy is a necesssarily degenerate form of government. The United States, for instance, was not created as a democracy but a Republic. It is the residue of our once great Republic that has enabled this country to last as long as it has. Push to repeal the 17th Amendment and restore the Republic! Write your Congressmen and Senators today!

The amount of times I read somebody saying "its not a democracy but a republic"...

Republics can be democracies, and indeed democracies can indeed work in a republican system, like how the US has always been. Democracy doesnt immediatly = Athenian democracy, and indeed the ancient greeks did not have final say on the creation of democracy and its evolution, as they themselves did not invent it (dispite modern misconception) with historical evidence of even Mesopotamia practicing democracy.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Not by a long shot! Democracy is a necesssarily degenerate form of government. The United States, for instance, was not created as a democracy but a Republic. It is the residue of our once great Republic that has enabled this country to last as long as it has. Push to repeal the 17th Amendment and restore the Republic! Write your Congressmen and Senators today!

The amount of times I read somebody saying "its not a democracy but a republic"...

Republics can be democracies, and indeed democracies can indeed work in a republican system, like how the US has always been. Democracy doesnt immediatly = Athenian democracy, and indeed the ancient greeks did not have final say on the creation of democracy and its evolution, as they themselves did not invent it (dispite modern misconception) with historical evidence of even Mesopotamia practicing democracy.

It is a federal republic, a Union of fifty sovereign States, republics.

[Genivaria]

The amount of times I read somebody saying "its not a democracy but a republic"...

Republics can be democracies, and indeed democracies can indeed work in a republican system, like how the US has always been. Democracy doesnt immediatly = Athenian democracy, and indeed the ancient greeks did not have final say on the creation of democracy and its evolution, as they themselves did not invent it (dispite modern misconception) with historical evidence of even Mesopotamia practicing democracy.

It is a federal republic, a Union of fifty sovereign States, republics.

YES! The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

[Genivaria]

The amount of times I read somebody saying "its not a democracy but a republic"...

Republics can be democracies, and indeed democracies can indeed work in a republican system, like how the US has always been. Democracy doesnt immediatly = Athenian democracy, and indeed the ancient greeks did not have final say on the creation of democracy and its evolution, as they themselves did not invent it (dispite modern misconception) with historical evidence of even Mesopotamia practicing democracy.

It is a federal republic, a Union of fifty sovereign States, republics.

YES! The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

[Astrolinium]

There is no such thing as a good form of government. Only ones that are less bad.

And before someone gets the wrong idea about my views, anarchy is even worse.

[Lyrantea]

No to both.

[Kronikta]

Man is flawed, thus any government of men is flawed. However, there are some forms of government that are better than others. I personally believe that the purpose of the government is to protect the rights of the people, and as far as I can tell a Republic is the best at doing that, because in a true Democracy the People are not restrained. So if one is able to get more than one half of the group of people to believe a certain thing, then it becomes Law.

Types of Government Explained - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4r0VUybeXY - I found this video very interesting and helpful.

[Alexlantis]

It's the best form of government we've found so far. However, it shouldn't be instilled by force unless the people want it.

[Uggarah]

I am going to say that countries tend to deserve the government that they are given.

[Isolated China]

Pssh, democracy is for the West and weaklings.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

It is a federal republic, a Union of fifty sovereign States, republics.

YES! The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

That was absolutely brilliant. Laughed out loud when I saw the pony picture.

[Choronzon]

There is no moral difference between a state. A state is a state is a state, and is illegitimate regardless. Individual leaders, parties, or institutions determine how "good" a government is. A liberal monarch is superior to a Neocon president. King Kucinich is more desirable than President Bush.

[Isolated China]

There is no moral difference between a state. A state is a state is a state, and is illegitimate regardless. Individual leaders, parties, or institutions determine how "good" a government is. A liberal monarch is superior to a Neocon president. King Kucinich is more desirable than President Bush.

But Bush invaded Iraq! King Kucinich didn't invade Iraq so obviously there's something wrong with your said country.

[Not Kony Run Uganda]

You have to think of it as if it's this: "What do the people want?" If a countries people say they want a Democracy, they get a Democracy. They want a Monarchy, you give them a Monarchy, hell if they want a dictatorship, you give them a dictatorship. What they people want, the people get.

[The Raised Fist]

democracy is a joke, violence the inevitable punchline.