Will Democracy commit suicide on it's self. What are the faults of Democracy?
151854
In theory, a democracy is probably the best forms of government - a government of, by, and for the people. Unfortunately, our current form of government has strayed from these ideals. It's all about the money now. The haves and the have-nots. If 2 letters arrived at the DNC or RNC, one with a campaign contribution of $1000 and one with $10, which would get more attention? Democracy is not dead yet, but she's reeling from the punches.
643070
No. Democracy will tear apart a nation when the people figure out how to vote money for themselves, thus making government top heavy.  This is the main reason our founders set us up as a Federal Republic, to keep power evenly divided so that no one group had too much power
462026
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.
37196
Democracy is a form of government where the people make the decisions. People mistake the US for a democracy, but we are not. We select the people that make the decisions, and this is what a republic is about.
819710
I have thought about this before in great depth...\n\nThe answer is that it would be a very bad idea for many reasons. Think about it... what is a democracy really? I mean not the for the ppl by the ppl part but what makes a democracy fair?\n\nFairness of democracy comes from listening to all views but more than that, having different views to listen to.\n\nSo what I am saying is, our planet has countries with monarchies, some with dictatorships, some with direct democracies (socialist Switzerland), republics (USA), etc.., from one point of view a person might think.. we need democracies all over the world.\n\nBUT, if you open your mind a minute and think.... having all these government variances is what actually makes our planet a democracy.\n\nHaving one form of democracy all over the world contradicts the concept of democracy.\n\nBTW, I used democracy as the one global form of government to illustrate my view. The downfalls of other types of government should be translucent.
349974
IN THE DAYS OF THE 18TH CENTURY, THIS COUNTRY WAS SO LARGE THAT A DIRECT DEMOCRACY WAS NOT A VERY GOOD OPTION.  SO THEY WENT WITH THE NEXT BEST THING.  BUT IN TODAYS TIMES, A DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE WITH THE HIGH TECH COMMUNICATIONS WE HAVE TODAY.  THE CORRUPT SYSTEM WE HAVE TODAY IS PROOF THAT A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY IS DOOMED TO FAIL.  A DIRECT DEMOCRACY WOULD BE FAR MORE HONEST.
258483
Wel thats democracy for u...the system works in such a way..but u have a point..one person cant do much..its always collective force that needs to act..remember united we stand..
1048306
The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are\nwilling to work and give to those who would not.\n - Thomas Jefferson\n\nThe U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.\n - Benjamin Franklin\n\nThat government is best which governs least.\n - Thomas Paine
841378
Hass J, You ask an important question, and you deserve a respectful answer.\n\nWinston Churchill once said, "Democracy is the worst form of government -- except for all the rest."\n\nThe legendary journalist, H. L. Mencken once said, "Democracy is the theory that the common man knows what he wants, and deserves to get it -- good and hard!"\n\nThe sentiments in your question are the core issues that have animated political philosophy since the days of Socrates. How best to govern. People like Socrates and Plato believed that the people couldn't be trusted because they were basically ignorant; and therefore Democracy leads to mob rule. They argued for the rule of the "rational elite."\n\nLater, men like John Locke argued that since the people have to live with the policies of government; and since all sovereignty flows from the the people anyway, the people have the absolute rights.\n\nThe problem is, both groups are correct. The people are the ones who have to pay, and therefore they should have a right in determining the people who make them do the paying. And yet, most people don't pay close attention to politics, and therefore are subject to stupid rhetoric that has no basis in fact. And this leads to fools being elected to powerful offices.\n\nActually I think Clint E is being conservative in his estimates. I think the figure is actually closer to 50%. In most presidential election years, you're lucky if you get half of the electorate to show up. And when they do, there's no guarantee that the decisions they make weren't based on hearing some stupid 30 second sound-bite on TV. \n\nThe answer is education. People have to made aware of the consequences of being uninformed. It's not that people are retarded -- it's that they ACT like they're retarded. That's why some of us come on forums like this. We're trying to raise levels of awareness.\n\nSuperior Question. Hope this answer helps. \n\nCheers, mate
102069
People could talk about that for hours. I'll try to be short and to go to the essential.\n\nThe right to live is a basic Human Right, no matter who you are and what you've done.\n\nAlmost all democratic countries in the world agree with that, except very few of them (no comment on them!).
1137231
I hate to admit it but I completely agree with your right to believe that...and I'm not in total disagreement with you. I think that if a Democracy works right it is the greatest form of government. However a Democracy gone bad can be a disgusting beast and all forms of government become corrupt nothing quite like greed and power to cause corruption...Now I can see how someone looking at the current government in the United States and decideing they want no part of a Democracy..Why our government cant understand that I dont understand I truly think we live in the past because we know how great Democracy can be we believe it still is great and that it can be fixed and hopfully it can...but as I said I can completely see your point...but all forms of government eventually become corrupt...you probably stand a better chance of reforming a Democracy..
945550
Yes\nThis is the easiest Question to answer in Answers as a quote by Winston Churchill says it all:\n"democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time".\n\n\nRATE GOOD DEBATE\n\nI'll throw another unsolicited one in I just discovered.\n\n"We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job". \n\n"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject". \n\nI lied smile not rile
495655
That's a very good question.  I would say the quality of a democratic government depends on how democratic the government actually is and also on how capable of making wise decisions the people of the country are.  The ancient Greeks were among the first people to have democratic governments, and in their literature we can read about democratic governments that were disastrous because of the unwise decisions the people made.  That led some Greek philosophers to theorize that the best form of government would be a benevolent dictatorship by a person so wise that they would have preferred not to be in power, but accepted it as their duty, but that because of the instability of that situation, a democracy was the next best thing.  In modern times, we have seen many governments that claimed to be democracies but in reality were dictatorships of a rather less benevolent kind.  The founding fathers of the United States (by the way, I am from the USA) wisely formed a government of checks and balances, where the people of the country had a voice, but no one institution had absolute authority.  I would say that in our country today, democracy is sometimes in danger of being compromised by the influence of powerful business and special interest groups over corrupt politicians, and by the apathy of many voters who are not as informed about political issues as they could be.  But overall, the institutions are sound and democratic, so I would give the U.S. good grades as a quality democracy overall.
917161
no, if it became a democracy it would be the end of us all, the founding fathers knew this when they formed the government.
801155
Democracy goes against all the laws of the jungle that guide human nature. It is the one form of government that tries to rise above petty selfish motves. The entire group decides what is in everyone's best interest, or tries to pick a leader best qualified to speak for it and make the best choice available. The leader rules by the people's pleasure, and may pay the ultimate price if found wanting.\nIt would be nice if we had a real democracy. (sigh)
167940
Democracy isn't an ideal system.  There are numerous flaws.  However it is the best form of government on the planet.  With a democratic society you aren't dragged out of your bed and taken off to some field and shot because you made a derogatory comment about your country's leader (Oh yes this does happen in other parts of the world.)  You say that freeing people from this type of persecution is unethical?!?  And these small groups that you are referring to are the ones dragging people out of their beds.\n\nOur founding fathers were living under an oppressive form of government.  If you read the deceleration of independence and even the preamble to the constitution you'll see what they were shooting for,  a form of government by the people and for the people.  Remember we are one of the newest country’s in the world but we also have the oldest constitution still in use today.\n\n\nWe the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America\n\nI truly wish you get the opportunity to travel outside the US.  So you can realize just how good you have it here. I don't know what college you are going to my dear but frankly you should ask for a refund.\n\nAnd remember the Freedom you are now enjoying to complain was paid for with the blood of this country's solders, IE that's why we aren't speaking German, Japanese or Russian.
308107
Democracy is the best we've had so far.  I would like to see more direct democracy in the future.\n\nThe converse of democracy is a dictatorship.  There are many advantages to a dictatorship as well.  Countries with dictatorships essentially take a greater gamble.  A democracy will never vote in the best leader for a country, because the average IQ and political knowledge of a country is not great enough to make this decision.  A dictatorship with a perfect leader would enjoy a strong government for the leader's lifetime.\n\nThe problem with a dictatorship is that when a bad leader is in place, or when power gets the better of them, the country is stuck with them.\n\nKeep in mind that the most deadly dictator of our time, Hitler, was born out of a German democracy.  Now, Hitler never won more than 37% of the vote.  Somehow, the majority government fell and handed the power to him by default.  \n\nAll I can say is that we still have a lot to learn about what makes a great government system.\n\n\np.s...I agree with the comments about communism, but must mention that this is a separate issue from democracy.  A Democratic Communist state could theoretically exist, and it may just happen in the future.  Keep in mind that it may be much ado about nothing.  We call ourselves a Capitalist state, but are far from the true meaning of Capitalist.  All in all, we are a mild socialist state.   Likewise, a future Democracic Communist state would likely not be a true communist state, but simply a stronger form of socialist state.\n\nIe.,,,the possible futures of China or Russia.