I don't believe in democracy. Not that it's not good, it's just that having democracy does not guarantee you anything. Democracy does not imply better life and no democracy does not imply worse life. So, why cost so much to get democracy??\n\nDemocracy will decrease efficiency and lead to a socialistic society. Politians act just to get votes. The whole idea of democracy bases on the assumption that voters are rational. However, they are not. In fact, people are affected by self interest and perception. They don't vote rationally. Just look at some financial theories, researchers in the past believed that individual investors behave rationally. However, nowadays, researchers start to believe the other way around. People do not behave rationally. So, is democracy really a good system for the world? Or just a game for the politians??
218164
Any type of government is a game for politicians, no matter how you look at it. And not all of us think democracy is good, I don't. After all, it got George Bush elected. Besides, democracy is basically one of the easiest games for liars, and we certainly have a lot of them in this society. We Americans tend to push our views on other people, we're like the big bullies of the playground. We refuse to see other societies views. Sometimes what seems the best isn't.
374718
Democracy is voting,\nVoting is right to choose.\nSo without voting there is no democracy.\nWhat else can be more important then that.
332600
Your question contains a premise to which, I suspect, many people would object.\n\nRightly or wrongly, many Americans do not view the government as always having the best intentions.  Indeed, I am glad that many people feel this way - otherwise, if there were no disagreement, there would be no need for debate and therefore no need for democracy.\n\nThe great thing about our democracy is that everyone gets a say in deciding "what is necessary for the betterness (sic) of the United States."  And believe it or not, people actually have differing opinions about this.  What is the best way to end terrorism?  Ask any ten people on the street and you will get ten thoughtful, yet different (to a greater or lesser degree) answers.  What public policies should be put in place regarding abortion?  There's another question on which good-hearted, well-informed people will differ.\n\nWhen the government takes action, some people are going to be dissatisfied and they will question the motives of the government.  And rightfully so, because the end-goal of debate is right and just policy - not the achievement of political (or worse yet, monetary) goals.\n\nAnd to address the second part of your question - why should the citizenry have "no idea what the government is working on"?  If it is up to citizens to guide policy, then perhaps we should have MORE access to information than we currently do.
12279
First of we are a federal Republic.  A democracy doesn't exist.  A republic is a representative form of government where the populace votes for people to represent their views in government.  \n\nDemocracy is where everyone has a say in every decision.  This would never and has never worked, even in ancient Greece because women, children, slaves and convicts never were allowed to vote.\n\nEven with the day to day decisions the ancient Greecians had a ruling council.
208842
Democracy is the best of bad choices for government we have.For me, a benevolent dictatorship would be my choice. Democracy is too messy, takes too long to get going, or for people to understand, look at Iraq. Just too many disparate opinions have to be weighed for it to be effective. Sometimes, countries need a strong man{or woman} with a single vision. FDR and Lincoln come to mind in our history.
660897
It's funny that you ask that, because lately I have noticed that Democrats seem more like Communists or Socialists than they did 50 years ago and they keep going farther that way. The problem is that, though founded on some utopian principles that seem appealing, it is not sustainable for any society.\n"you will not have to worry about food, clothing, housing, it will all be supplied by the government." Yeah, cause no one in USSR or China or Cuba had/has to worry about food, clothing or housing.\nNo, Democracy is the way to go. Vote Republican! :)
531710
and your lies are even bigger.....\n\nthe thing about democracy is that it can't be bought even if you are rich, you still have no voice. how sad for you
287188
many people argue that there really is no such thing as a true democracy.\nEven in the greatest democracies we still elect leaders who may or may not really represent the voice of the people.\nPerhaps a true democracy would operate something like American Idol, where we pick up a phone and text our votes on every issue that comes up.\nThere's a thought!
425780
Representative democracy is just elected officials making the laws and decisions for the majority.  Direct democracy is not feasible because of the large numbers of people.  Even in a smaller community, you would have thousands of people who would want to speak about each and every thing that came up.  \n\nIn government, there is a thing called "The Iron Law of Oligarchy," which means no matter how much you try to maintain direct democracy, eventually there comes a need for representaties to speak for the majority, instead of individuals speaking for themselves.
221653
If the truth be told - there is no such thing as 'democracy' for all, and there never will be.\nSociety needs rules, the moment you have rules, you interfere with someones freedom - that is not democratic.
328209
So, you want every law to be voted about in the public? I doubt people would care enough to vote several times a day. Also, there's one problem with democracy: the average joe is an idiot, but also numerous, voting with all his lack of insight for a law or president he doesn't understand the full meaning of.
277971
American is not, and was never intended to be, a democracy. In a democracy, it is pure majority rule.\n\nIn a republic, like the US, people get together and elect someone else to vote on their behalf and to make decisions for everyone elese. It's majority rule by proxy.\n\nAn Oligopoly is an economic model where a few people control the means of production and distribution. An Oligarchy is a political system where a few people control the power.\n\nThe US is not an Oligarchy, since the power is held by political parties, not individuals. It may be an oligopoly, depending upon how you view corporate ownership.\n\nIs it fair? No. Personally, I think political parties are one one of the worst mistakes made by this country since its founding. I think every elected official should have to state their personal views, not as members of political parties. Voters would then have to choose elected officials on their own individual merits. \n\nI also think that elected officials should have to sign a contract during campaigning, specifying exactly what they will and will not do once in office. Violate the terms of the contract, and you lose your office automatically. That'll keep campaign promises from being ignored.
53750
No. For some more enlightened and less idealistic-minded people we realize that the democratic system is simply a guide line. That every and any rule set can be circumvented or bypassed. Vote? As long as there are electoral colleges your vote means almost next to nothing. Our government is corrupt and run by influence and pay offs. You're kidding yourself if you honestly believes a flawed and corrupt system such as ours is effective. Look at Katrina relief. Look at the poor inside our country. Look at the homeless child rate. Then look at the golden umbrellas all the CEO's, senators, justices and governors retain even after retirement. There's what they want you to see and then there's the truth. Take the blue pill Neo.
666049
LOL, that's a good one.  It's all a matter of interpretation.  The buzzword is "democracy", when people use that word they can mean either an old fashioned American Style Democracy, or a European style social democracy.  Unfortunately since the mid thirties American government has been slowly morphing into the latter.  In a social democracy voting is merged with socialist ideology that everyone deserves a "minimum" standard of living.  In the older American model people got what they deserved through hard work or not.  Success was a prize to be won, not an entitlement to be taken for granted.\n      It all comes down to ideology, and niether one of the parties is "conservative" in the original American sense of limiting government's power, taxes on the citizens, and preventing a big central authority from dictating to the States or the people.  In my opinion, both parties are social democratic parties at their face value, but also elite privilege makers to keep corporate sponsors happy and donating to the campaigns.  We have evolved a strange two faced game where politicians try to placate the poor people with programs and the rich with tax shelters, leaving the hard working economic producing classes (middle or not) holding the bag.  The only real answer is a hard look at history (which most are scared to take) that inspires a new party that believes in limited government, freedom, and letting individual people sink or swim on their own merits, helped if they need help, by their families and local communities, not uncle sam's big fat pocket book. Happy surfing, I'm out.
164561
If we believe Tyler, the average age of a democracy is 200 years, then we should be close to the end!!! \n\nBut the theory is flawed, what about the ability to self-correct. Most democracies are driven by not just policies set 200 years ago but also by changes made to it over time. In fact, I would argue that these chain of events would more likely be valid for a dictatorship than a democracy. \n\nAs long as the democracy is willing to change and improve it will remain robust. \n\nAs for statistics for the Bush-Gore elections, they just state the obvious ...majority of the poor voted for democrats while rich voted for republicans.
238485
Every country needs a revolution. Now.\n\nFor everyone who says 'we need to vote our way to change'. When in history has this ever worked? No matter how 'good' a politician is, once they are voted in they become corrupt and kneel at the feet of whoever is giving them power. (Never the people.)\n\n"Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Acton
650457
no.  was never a democracy.  it was intended to be a republic, but we all got sold to the highest bidder.  now its a corporate run capitalistic prison state.