Is democracy really the best governmental system? In the west, we seem to think so. We have used it for a very long time and have even started forcing it on others in an attempt to make them 'better'.
But is there something better?
I think there must be. For one thing, what do we as the voting public know about those who would rule us? Answer: What they tell us and what the papers find out, in edited form of course. Are either of these sources reliable enough to base such an important judgement on?
Secondly, who are the voting public? Are they all intelligent people, who will think things through and vote for the candidate who will best represent their interests? Not necessarily. I saw a news item the other day saying that Bush's opposition candidate in the next US election has suffered a major blow to his campaign. He has injured his shoulder and will be unable to shake hands with anyone for the duration of the campaign. Is this really the way an intelligent, thoughtful person should choose their president?
I'm not saying I have any answers, I don't, but I hope that some day someone will.
What are your thoughts?
Originally posted by jimmyb270Democracy may not be perfect but, its the best form of government we have at the present time.
Is democracy really the best governmental system? In the west, we seem to think so. We have used it for a very long time and have even started forcing it on others in an attempt to make them 'better'.
But is there something better?
I think there must be. For one thing, what do we as the voting public know about those who would rule us? Answer: What ...[text shortened]... I have any answers, I don't, but I hope that some day someone will.
What are your thoughts?
Originally posted by Asher123I believe you are confusing democracy with capitalism. And why is it a sin to accumulate wealth?
I'm really tired of hearing that - I'm sure we as enlightened humans can come up with some for of government that encourages people to become better people rather than encourage themn to become richer people
it's not I who is confusing the two - it's the democratic countries in the world. What's wrong is that the capitalist idealism put accumulation of wealth above morallity. The successgul people in the corporate world today are the most unscrupulous sharks.
The American dream - is 'making it' not becoming a better more complete person. I think that's a fundamental mistake
It is widely thought that democracy and capatalism go hand in hand, and that the 2 are pretty inseperable.
Personally I think that democracy is flawed for several reasons.
Firstly, the general public doesn't know what's good for it. If you were to promise joe average a 25% tax cut he'd probably vote for you on the spot, without questioning which services are going to suffer. How many times do we hear complaints about the amount of money spent on the military, while at the same time hearing complaints that the soldiers are under equiped.
Another reason is that Joe public is gullable. He'll vote a party in on one issue and not know about any of the rest.
Then there is the fact that politicians are always worried about getting votes, and votes come when you do what most people find popular, which as I said before isn't actually what is best for them. At the same time, once a ploitician is in power he'll be there for the next X years, free to change his policies 180 degrees if he likes. This leads to politicians going against their manifestos at the begining of their terms and then dropping taxes etc at the end so that they can get reelected.
If you're a minority group in a democracy then you're screwed because you can't vote in a representative and he representative who doesn't get in doesn't give a hoot about you compared to the majority because he's pitching for the largest set of votes.
Yep, democracy has flaws. After looking at all the systems out there I am of teh opinion that the best one is a beneficial dictatorship. But seeing how 'beneficial' dictatorships quickly turn to nasty bastard dictatorships I'll stick with the best that we have, so democracy it is.
Originally posted by Asher123Well what kind of government do you want? If not a democracy. What? Do you prefer Communism, Socialism, or a monarchy? I've been all over the world and while our government isn't perfect it sire is a hell of a lot better than most parts of the world.
yeah - I think those are rotten too obviously
Originally posted by belgianfreaki like benevolent dictatorships, but that's probably because i was a teacher 😀
I am of teh opinion that the best one is a beneficial dictatorship.
haven't there been some benevolent dictatorships? i seem to recall from ancient history that Pericles in Athens formed such a government.
in friendship,
prad
Well, being a communist I obviously don't want a capitalist government.
But, let's get a few things straight about communism:
The soviet Union wasn't communist.
Cuba isn't communist.
"Oh but Shavithingy, they claim they are!"
Yes, just like most western democracies claim to represent the people who live in their countries, which they don't either.
Communism has a few basic 'starting' points:
1. He who produces has control over production and an equal say in distribution there-of.
2. Everybody is equal.
3. An hour of one man's life is worth exactly the same as an hour of another man's life.
You will notice in the Soviet Union and Cuba that the State decided who worked where, who received what and how things were distributed. In the Western capitalism it is the large multi-nationals who decide this. When corporations decide what, where and how, we call it capitalism. When the State decides we should call it State-capitalism.
In this day and age of internet, information and blah blah blah, it should be easy enough to create a perpetual state of referendum. (referendi? I don't really know what the plural is). Political parties become lobbying parties, every four years a government is chosen, not to lead, but to make sure that the decisions made by the people are carried out. If they don't do this adequatly enough, they are de-selected at the next election.
Basically, power has to be placed as low as possible, as wide-spread as possible and everyone should be able to choose each single point as they wish.
Not: Vote for us: We're pro-capitalism and anti-abortion. What if you're pro capitalism and pro-abortion?
See, every issue should be dealt with seperately by the majority.
Originally posted by shavixmirI agree with you on much of this, but I still have the one misgiving which is that Joe Public is stupid and greedy. An example is the colapse of the building societies in the UK. I can't remember the details but it was in the 'shareholders' (being anyone who had taken a loan from the society) best interests that the building societies remained as they were. But then some people realised that they could make a fortune by privatising so offered to buy each shareholders shares. Anyone who looked at how this would change the company could see that is was bad in the long term and there was quite an impressive resistance from those who realised what was going on, but in the end all that most people saw was that some stranger was going to give them a few hundred pounds for something they didn't know they had, so the motion was passed and the societies privatised.
Well, being a communist I obviously don't want a capitalist government.
But, let's get a few things straight about communism:
The soviet Union wasn't communist.
Cuba isn't communist.
"Oh but Shavithingy, they claim they are!"
Yes, just like most western democracies claim to represent the people who live in their countries, which they don ...[text shortened]... apitalism and pro-abortion?
See, every issue should be dealt with seperately by the majority.
Originally posted by pradtfas a teacher you must know how easy it is for a 'benevolent' dictatorship to be abused. The system itself almost encourages corruption ("ultimate power leads to ultimate corruption" ) and needs monitoring, but you can't monitor an all powerful dictator like you can a teacher.
i like benevolent dictatorships, but that's probably because i was a teacher 😀
haven't there been some benevolent dictatorships? i seem to recall from ancient history that Pericles in Athens formed such a government.
in friendship,
prad
The only way benevolent dictatorships work is if the guy at the top genuinely has his peoples best interests at heart, is brave enough to carry out the necessary, is intelegent enough to know what is truely the best action and smart enough not to be mislead by those around him who are selfish. And in the rare event that this happens it usually (always?) goes wrong want the original leader dies (of unnatural causes?) and his greedy and malevolent heir/protege takes over.
Originally posted by belgianfreakthis is really beautifully written!
The only way benevolent dictatorships work is if the guy at the top genuinely has his peoples best interests at heart, is brave enough to carry out the necessary, is intelegent enough to know what is truely the best action and smart enough not to be mislead by those around him who are selfish.
would it were an aspiration for all leaders!
in friendship,
prad
ps btw, i was absolutely merciless as a teacher! some of my students are still serving detentions!