Our hero was born into this world as a fully grown man. He knew about democracy and the individual's right to choose for himself, so when he walked into town and saw a presedential campaign poster he was pleased. It meant that this world he had mysteriously been thrown into was a good world where every man, woman and child could choose their own leaders. Excited and eager to make his own vote he found his way to the campaign office of the first candidate.
- Welcome, welcome!
A man with a fixated smile on his face came running towards our hero in haste, happy to greet what could become a new follower.
- How may I help you this fine morning? He asked.
- Well, I'd like to know what your candidate would do for this country were he to be elected president.
- Oh, we have a lot of issues on our program, said the recruiter with a laugh. First, we'll help spread the word of God, of course, and we'll lower the taxes and so on... [due to space limitations and the fact that we all heard it before, we'll cut him short here]
As our hero left the first campaign office he thought: "Well, at least they'll spread the word of God (whatever that means) and they'll lower the taxes. That's good. I guess".
Soon, our hero entered the second campaign office, again greated by a most enthusiastic person proclaiming that if their candidate is chosen: "we will spread the word of God and lower taxes for those who needs it".
Our hero left a little confused. That was pretty much the same message as the first campaign leader spoke. Finally, entering the third campaign office and hearing the same thing once more, our hero felt compelled to ask: "I have now visited all three campaign offices and you've all told me the same thing; that you'll spread the word of God and that you will all lower the taxes for those who needs it. What's the point? No matter which one of you I vote for, and no matter which one of you wins, the end result will be the same."
The third campaign leader thought about that for about a second and replied: "I beg to differ, sir. The first candidate you visited are short and chubby. The second is tall and skinny, and our candidate - as you might have noticed - is a women."
A little baffled at the response, our hero clarified: "But, no matter which one I choose, you will do the exact same thing. Spread the word of God and lower the taxes for the groups that vote for you, am I right?".
"Why, yes sir, of course. This is what democracy is all about. To get voted by the majority, and in order to be voted by the majority you have to speak the words that the majority wants to hear. Isn't that obvious?"
"But what about the minorities? I thought that democracy was about justice for everyone. Equal rights for everyone. A democracy being a safe haven for everyone where we can speak our mind and proclaim our own beliefs without fear of being silenced somehow. But clearly, your view on the matter is that the majority is the only important group of people. What about the minorities?"
"What about them?"
The best form of government is a dictatorship in which the dictator has the interests of the people at heart and the people support him.
The result of this is that:
There is no unnecessary spending on election campains.
The leader doesnt need to lie.
The leader thinks further ahead and not just until the next election.
This is however very rare.
A good democracy places much less emphasis on presidential election campaigns and more on local elections and public participation in day to day decision making and policy.
A major problem in Africa is the concept that democracy means that once an election is won you can stand up as president and announce 'we have the mandate of the people' and then do whatever comes into your head !
Originally posted by twhiteheadThis seems to be a problem in a lot more than just Africa...!!!
A major problem in Africa is the concept that democracy means that once an election is won you can stand up as president and announce 'we have the mandate of the people' and then do whatever comes into your head !
Originally posted by twhiteheadCall me naive and ideological, but I believe the best type of government is a real democracy. If everyone is allowed to voice their own opinions and can practice their own beliefs and relate to others freely, then surely there's true justice. From true justice comes long-lasting friendship.
The best form of government is a dictatorship in which the dictator has the interests of the people at heart and the people support him.
The result of this is that:
There is no unnecessary spending on election campains.
The leader doesnt need to lie.
The leader thinks further ahead and not just until the next election.
This is however very rare. ...[text shortened]... t and announce 'we have the mandate of the people' and then do whatever comes into your head !
Our hero is jumping back and forth of happiness over the fields filled with flowers and the rosy sent of summer. He knows that, now, there's choices to be made and whomever wins, life will be good to him and all the people he loves, if not perfect.
Yeay...
Originally posted by stockenYou are naive, In a real democracy everyone is NOT allowed to voice their opinions if the majority say they are not allowed. In a real democracy the mob will no doubt decide that there are some people that you must associate with whether you like it or not. i.e an army of bureaurats.
Call me naive and ideological, but I believe the best type of government is a real democracy. If everyone is allowed to voice their own opinions and can practice their own beliefs and relate to others freely, then surely there's true justice. From true justice comes long-lasting friendship.
Our hero is jumping back and forth of happiness over the fields ...[text shortened]... whomever wins, life will be good to him and all the people he loves, if not perfect.
Yeay...
In a real democracy the minority just get their rights voted away eg. In New Zealand if you earn over $60k you will have to hand over more of your income. You can bet there'd be a different guvamint if the majority earned 60k plus. (Just one example)
The ideal is a binding constitution protecting the rights of the minority....and the smallest minority of all is the individual.
"It is bad to be oppressed by a minority,
but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority."
-- Lord Acton
Originally posted by WajomaAt first (when Zarathustra first spoke of democracy) everyone was considered equal and everyone had the right to speak their own mind and take responsibility for their own actions. Then the greeks caught up with the idea, but allowed only free citizens to vote. Democracy has no doubt changed repeatedly over the centuries. Why can't we change the meaning of the word once more, to say:
You are naive, In a real democracy everyone is NOT allowed to voice their opinions if the majority say they are not allowed. In a real democracy the mob will no doubt decide that there are some people that you must associate with whether you like it or not. i.e an army of bureaurats.
In a real democracy the minority just get their rights voted away eg. I ...[text shortened]... to be oppressed by a minority,
but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority."
-- Lord Acton
Democracy is a constitution where the government is selected by the people and where it's the governments responsibility to see to it that all people live under equal circumstances no matter their religious beliefs, their political views or their ignorance to the same.
Originally posted by stockenThis is only true in a two party, winner-take-all style of election, as in the U.S. All parties are forced into the middle, where they have to appeal to the broadest number of people possible. In a parliamentary system you can have parties who take very specific positions from any spot on the political spectrum, and who can still gain representation in parliament, even thought they may never be the majority party.
Our hero was born into this world as a fully grown man. He knew about democracy and the individual's right to choose for himself, so when he walked into town and saw a presedential campaign poster he was pleased. It meant that this world he had mysteriously been thrown into was a good world where every man, woman and child could choose their own leaders. Ex ...[text shortened]... rity is the only important group of people. What about the minorities?"
"What about them?"
Someone who is a socialist will never have any representation in the U.S. Congress. But in a European, parliamentary system, socialist parties are a viable concept.
Originally posted by twhiteheadYour ideal dictator only exists in theory. In practice you get leaders who fall far short of that goal. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I think it is far better to have a less efficient democracy than to toil under the yoke of an efficient dictator.
The best form of government is a dictatorship in which the dictator has the interests of the people at heart and the people support him.
The result of this is that:
There is no unnecessary spending on election campains.
The leader doesnt need to lie.
The leader thinks further ahead and not just until the next election.
This is however very rare. ...[text shortened]... t and announce 'we have the mandate of the people' and then do whatever comes into your head !
Originally posted by WajomaWoe to those poor, poor people in New Zealand who have the terrible misfortune of making more than 60k. I'm surprised they don't find their burdens so offensive that they give all their cash away and take an oath of poverty. But somehow they manage to struggle through it all.
You are naive, In a real democracy everyone is NOT allowed to voice their opinions if the majority say they are not allowed. In a real democracy the mob will no doubt decide that there are some people that you must associate with whether you like it or not. i.e an army of bureaurats.
In a real democracy the minority just get their rights voted away eg. I ...[text shortened]... to be oppressed by a minority,
but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority."
-- Lord Acton
Originally posted by rwingettWoe to poor, poor NZ when these people get sick of the freeloaders riding on their back, and just leave.
Woe to those poor, poor people in New Zealand who have the terrible misfortune of making more than 60k. I'm surprised they don't find their burdens so offensive that they give all their cash away and take an oath of poverty. But somehow they manage to struggle through it all.
A fine is a tax for doing bad.
A tax is a fine for doing good
These people (a minority) are being punished for working harder, smarter and more determinedly than some others. On a flat rate not only would someone earning eg 80k pay twice as much as 40k but they likely make use of private education and health thereby making less demand on a system they pay twice as much for.
An example of a mob of envy artists (you sound like one) voting away the rights of a minority.
Originally posted by sasquatch672I wasn't trying to be funny. Didn't know about that South Park episode. I merely wanted to discuss democracy as a concept. You do realize that democracy, despite its good intentions, are utterly failing in some parts of the world?
There was a South Park episode about the first part of your post which, incidentally, was much funnier than your post.
Don't quit your day job.
Kinda like communism. An excellent concept as defined by Marx. Absolutely appauling when built on top of a totalitaire dictatorship.
Democracy today, is nothing but the dictatorship of the many.
And no, I won't quit my day job. It's what's keeping me sane (somewhat).
