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Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 3:58 pm
What are anyone else's opinions on democracy? Personally, I'm not a fan. However, I don't think we have a better system of governance so I wouldn't get rid of it. I just see it as the best of a horrifically bad situation.
The reason I don't like it is that I don't understand the notion that everyone's opinion is valid. Some people know more about particular subjects than others, that makes their opinions more valuable for me. That someone who has spend their life studying economics should have the same say on how the countries economy is run as someone who can't count to ten is crazy to me.
The main benefit of a democracy is that there are avenues to prevent some crack-pot taking power and abusing it. However, the drawback to this is that if someone who wants the best for his/her country takes power, those same avenues can be used to stop them by people who may have darker motives.
I think the best system of governance would be a benevolent dictatorship, but guaranteeing your dictator stays benevolent is impossible unfortunately, so democracy is the best we have.
'Always you have to contend with the stupidity of men' - Henry David Thoreau
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 4:03 pm
The error in democracy is that it assumes everyone is capable of critical thinking and making informed decisions, witch is not true. I know people that vote based on charisma, good looks or speaking capacity, not ideals.
But that could be corrected with an egalitarian education. Or a new, better system. Untill then we are stuck with the better of the worse.
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 4:06 pm
(October 5, 2012 at 4:03 pm)LastPoet Wrote: Or a new, better system. Untill then we are stuck with the better of the worse.
That's what I think. I just have never been able to think of a better system, do you have any ideas about one?
'Always you have to contend with the stupidity of men' - Henry David Thoreau
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Dictatorship, being me the supreme ruler of humanity!!!1111one eleven 
Seriously though, I have nothing. Besides, politics aren't my speciality.
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 4:18 pm
The virtue of democracy (or republicanism) is that everything else is demonstrably worse.
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 4:44 pm
(October 5, 2012 at 3:58 pm)Hughsie Wrote: I think the best system of governance would be a benevolent dictatorship, but guaranteeing your dictator stays benevolent is impossible unfortunately, so democracy is the best we have.
This is the gist of my opinion.
Though, in order to make democracy work better, there should be a mandatory test for everyone that checks how well you know your history, politics, what the political parties stand for and how different decisions could impact the state before being allowed to vote. 
When I was young, there was a god with infinite power protecting me. Is there anyone else who felt that way? And was sure about it? but the first time I fell in love, I was thrown down - or maybe I broke free - and I bade farewell to God and became human. Now I don't have God's protection, and I walk on the ground without wings, but I don't regret this hardship. I want to live as a person. -Arina Tanemura
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 4:55 pm
(This post was last modified: October 5, 2012 at 4:57 pm by Darkstar.)
Has a real meritocracy ever been tried? We won't know if it's better than democracy if we haven't ever seen it. It can still include some democratic elements.
Lastpoet Wrote:The error in democracy is that it assumes everyone is capable of critical thinking and making informed decisions, witch is not true Having some knowledge on what was being voted for would be required.
Lastpoet Wrote:But that could be corrected with an egalitarian education. They would have that too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritocracy...racy_Party Not sure about #4...
John Adams Wrote:The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Are we talking true Democracy or a Democratic Republic?
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 4:58 pm
I agree that democracies have their issues, and also that there really isn't any better form of governance.
That being said, I believe everyone is entitled to their opinions and to have those opinions voiced in their government. Being an atheist in an overwhelmingly Christian country is a fine point on this front. I'd love it if the US became much more socialist, but I have to admit the opposing side isn't always wrong about everything. Ideally there would be a better balance. In the US's case I think the government would function better if we abolished the electoral college in favor of direct voting. I'd like to see local elections based on a different form of districting which is often used to shut out the voice of the minority party in a given area. I also think breaking with the two party system would go a long way in helping the US government. Imagine a religious conservative party, a conservative party, a libertarian party, a democratic party, a liberal party, and a socialist party... I'd be happy with that. Getting congress to function on a coalition basis vs. bipartisan basis would be mucho helpful here.
Plus, if we got rid of democracy my husband would be out of a job :-(
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RE: Democracy ..... over-rated?
October 5, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Democracy would be better if term limits were eradicated. I never understood the point of them; if enough people want someone out of office, they get voted out, so you can't argue that they prevent people from staying in power too long. On the other hand, if we ever do get a really good leader who does wonders for the country, he only gets to lead for x number of years.
It's like the people who set up the system want it to fail.
Uh oh...*conspiracy*.
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