NationStates

As we all know, Democracy is described as "the rule of the people". Asking this question in this very diverse community coming from different political backgrounds, it will be very interesting to see which answers and beliefs would surface

Bad, only there are not really better possibilities.

Socrates has spoken wisely about democracy and the issues with it

Socrates was not elitist in the normal sense. He didn’t believe that a narrow few should only ever vote. He did, however, insist that only those who had thought about issues rationally and deeply should be let near a vote.


He asked us to imagine an election debate between two candidates, one who was like a doctor and the other who was like a sweet shop owner. The sweet shop owner would say of his rival: Look, this person here has worked many evils on you. He hurts you, gives you bitter potions and tells you not to eat and drink whatever you like. He’ll never serve you feasts of many and varied pleasant things like I will. Socrates asks us to consider the audience response: Do you think the doctor would be able to reply effectively? The true answer – ‘I cause you trouble, and go against you desires in order to help you’ would cause an uproar among the voters, don’t you think?





When you are on a boat and you need to go to England, you don't go vote on some old man who can speak good. You assign the experienced captain to bring you there.

Democracy is the best system we have and the best system we could hope for. I could gush all over democracy all day and all night, but I won't. That said, however, nothing is perfect, and democracy has 2 fundamental flaws:

1. Democracies only care about votes. This means that only marginal electorates receive love from the government, whilst safe electorates don't. Larger population centres receive more love from the government due to larger voter concentration

2. Democracies only care about votes. This means that politicians will do short term things to win them votes, rather than long term things will lose votes short-term, but are nonetheless fundamental to the operation of the country.

Besides this, I effing love democracy

Deutsche East Indies wrote:As we all know, Democracy is described as "the rule of the people". Asking this question in this very diverse community coming from different political backgrounds, it will be very interesting to see which answers and beliefs would surface

Better than the alternative. Least of the devils.

Representative democracy is the worst system of government, except for all those other forms that has been tried. The thing about democracy is that it has the marketplace of ideas capability, meaning that bad ideas have a chance to be replaced by other alternative. This just doesn't happen in an authoritarian state based on a firm set of dogma, which more often than not leads to disastrous results.

Another thing is that democracy derived its powers from the people, not from a separated oligarchal keys to power. They have to attend and listen to the needs of the society as a whole because that's the source of power and treasury.

Also this is a good start

Aeyariss wrote:

Deutsche East Indies wrote:As we all know, Democracy is described as "the rule of the people". Asking this question in this very diverse community coming from different political backgrounds, it will be very interesting to see which answers and beliefs would surface

Better than the alternative. Least of the devils.

Pretty much this. It's the worst possible form of government, except for all the other ones we've tried.

Albrenia wrote:

Aeyariss wrote:
Better than the alternative. Least of the devils.

Pretty much this. It's the worst possible form of government, except for all the other ones we've tried.

So, what would you suggest that's better?

Its a good thing.

Australian rePublic wrote:

Albrenia wrote:
Pretty much this. It's the worst possible form of government, except for all the other ones we've tried.

So, what would you suggest that's better?

To be honest, I think the people need to give uo a part of their freedom willingly. A strong leader with clear goals to reach a evolution of the system is needed to unite the people and make the undemocratic voice the rule of the many.

A great system passed down to us by our Anglo-Saxon forebearers. Imagine quoting Norman aristocrat Churchill lol

Nod and HYDRA Combined wrote:

Australian rePublic wrote:So, what would you suggest that's better?

To be honest, I think the people need to give uo a part of their freedom willingly. A strong leader with clear goals to reach a evolution of the system is needed to unite the people and make the undemocratic voice the rule of the many.

Benevolant Dictatorship?

Nod and HYDRA Combined wrote:

Australian rePublic wrote:So, what would you suggest that's better?

To be honest, I think the people need to give uo a part of their freedom willingly. A strong leader with clear goals to reach a evolution of the system is needed to unite the people and make the undemocratic voice the rule of the many.

"I alone can do it, believe me."

Australian rePublic wrote:

Albrenia wrote:
Pretty much this. It's the worst possible form of government, except for all the other ones we've tried.

So, what would you suggest that's better?

Something we haven't tried yet might be better. Or, it will probably just turn out like everything that isn't democracy and suck even worse.

For now Democracy all the way baby. Maybe when humans are much more intelligent then we are now we'll think of something better.

Democracy is cool.

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Neuer Deutsches Reich wrote:Bad, only there are not really better possibilities.

Socrates has spoken wisely about democracy and the issues with it

Socrates was not elitist in the normal sense. He didn’t believe that a narrow few should only ever vote. He did, however, insist that only those who had thought about issues rationally and deeply should be let near a vote.


He asked us to imagine an election debate between two candidates, one who was like a doctor and the other who was like a sweet shop owner. The sweet shop owner would say of his rival: Look, this person here has worked many evils on you. He hurts you, gives you bitter potions and tells you not to eat and drink whatever you like. He’ll never serve you feasts of many and varied pleasant things like I will. Socrates asks us to consider the audience response: Do you think the doctor would be able to reply effectively? The true answer – ‘I cause you trouble, and go against you desires in order to help you’ would cause an uproar among the voters, don’t you think?





When you are on a boat and you need to go to England, you don't go vote on some old man who can speak good. You assign the experienced captain to bring you there.

https://www.theschooloflife.com/thebook ... democracy/

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Munkcestrian RepubIic wrote:A great system passed down to us by our Anglo-Saxon forebearers. Imagine quoting Norman aristocrat Churchill lol

Imagine caring about Churchill's ancestry.

I'm neutral.

Democracy should be balanced with civil and economic freedom. Frankly, as long as a nation's morality aligns with Catholic teaching, I'm cool.

The Huskar Social Union wrote:Its a good thing.

Only if done properly. FPTP is not democratic in the least but STV, MMP, or Party List PR is far better

Democracy, for all its problems, is better than the alternatives we have right now.

Democracy, or at least liberal democracy, is corrupt and incomplete.

Prozitia wrote:Democracy, or at least liberal democracy, is corrupt and incomplete.

Elaborate further please.

I don't see democracy as a positive thing in my opinion. I see it as a more permanently short-sighted stagnation, and where necessary items are to be neglected. There is no active attempt to drive the social understanding forward. I see Democracy as wildly inefficient in managing affairs of the society.

Democracy alone is bad because of its tendency to vote the popular choice over the practical or effective choice. However imperfect, I really appreciate the US system. It marries together a Republic (better) and a Democracy (more popular) together so we have plenty of voting power, we can choose who represents us to make the decisions on our behalf.

It all depends on people who make up the democracy and who the voters are. But as a general rule the only truly functioning democracies that have the politicians who actually have the people of the nation's interests in mind instead of some foreign policy, diplomatic orginasation, plot to flood the country with foreigners and then give the foreigners welfare and voting rights to place a stranglehold on power. Standard Corruption. Or just sheer incompetence, the only countries that I can think of that don't have one or more of those problems are maybe Switzerland. Japan.
Uruguay. And maybe czechia and possibly Poland.

Saxon Anglia wrote:It all depends on people who make up the democracy and who the voters are. But as a general rule the only truly functioning democracies that have the politicians who actually have the people of the nation's interests in mind instead of some foreign policy, diplomatic orginasation, plot to flood the country with foreigners and then give the foreigners welfare and voting rights to place a stranglehold on power. Standard Corruption. Or just sheer incompetence, the only countries that I can think of that don't have one or more of those problems are maybe Switzerland. Japan.
Uruguay. And maybe czechia and possibly Poland.

That sounds like the American left. They don't care about Americans, they care about making sure immigrants (including the illegal ones) vote for the left by giving the illegal immigrants a whole bunch of money and safety as to outnumber the actual Americans that know better than to vote for the left.

Deutsche East Indies wrote:As we all know, Democracy is described as "the rule of the people". Asking this question in this very diverse community coming from different political backgrounds, it will be very interesting to see which answers and beliefs would surface

You should really provide YOUR opinion to begin with.

Democracy is non-negotiable.