Why is democracy the best form of government?  And if it isn't what may be better?
458580
Really, it depends on your definition of "best".  If you believe that the majority is always right and the minority has no rights, democrocy is best.\n\nIf you want a strong economy and maximum production, again with a minority with no rights, choose fascism.\n\nIf you want a planned economy with little economic growth, and where everybody is guarenteed a wage no matter their production, choose communism.\n\nIf you would rather have a free market economy, where majority rules but the minority is protected, a federal republic is the best.\n\nOr if you want a hodge-podge of a little bit if this and a little bit of that but mostly federal republic , choose the current system that the United States is laboring under. \n\nBTW for an elected government to work, the people of that country have to have a tradition of freedom.  Look at Eastern Europe.  After the Cold War, when the USSR pulled out of the Eastern Block countries, Czechislovakia easily transformed from Communism to a Republic, whereas Yugoslavia had ten years of bloodshed.  The former had a tradition of freedom whereas the latter had been a country for less than 100 years and had been ruled by the Turks for 400 years.  Iraq is much the same.  So although a federal republic may be the "best" government for economic growth and protection of minority thought, it is also the hardest to keep because it takes effort by its citizens to maintain properly.  Sorry folks, but the USA has been neglected by its citizens and, in my opinion, is in decline.  It saddens me to say it, but it is true.  The United States has fallen into the "bread and circuses" phase just like the Romans did before us.  Most citizens refuse to join the military and according to polls, would avoid a draft. Our national morality is at an all time low, and our selfishness is at an all time high.  The barbarians are at the gates and we fight amongst ourselves.
666360
The United States is not a Democracy.  It is a Republic. A Democracy is generally thought of as being ruled by the people.  We elect representatives to "rule" for us. It would be too hard to run a country as a true Democracy.  All the people would have to vote on everything.  However, We do hold the democratic process, and the people, in high esteem and try to run the country by what most of the people want.
1007795
democracy-government in which the people directly rule, has maximum tollerance toward religion and cultural identity stresses freedom of speach, stressed importance of innovation and success causses strong economy--draw backs; slow decision making, poor military strength\n\nrepublic-govenment in which elected representatives rule; great tolerance toward religion and cultural identity, stresses freedom of speech, stressed importance of innovation and success causses strong economy--draw backs: mediocre decision making, corruption pressent, weak to mediocre military strength\n\nmonarchy-government in which a hereditary monarchy rules; mediocre to poor tolerance, censored speech, mediocre innovative and sucsess drive makes mediorcre economic strength, good military strength--drawbacks: government does not cause excellent results in any catagory \n\ndespotism-government in which single autocrat rules usualy by being backed by the military and/or a secret police; generaly very low tollerance, heavily censored speach, distribution of wealth to close friends and poor motivation to excel causes economy to suffer, military strong--drawbacks: poor personal freedom causes civil unrest, week economy\n\nconstitutional monarchy-a government where a hereditary monarchy rules only with powers dictated by a constitution; fair to good tolerance, occational censorship of media, good personal freedom causes good economy, fair military--drawbacks:none major\n\noligarchy-govenment in which a council of plutocrats or hereditarily designated members rule; tolerance and free speech depends on benvolence of council, generaly good personal freedoms causes strong economy, weak military--drawbacks: instability of policy\n\ncommunism-govenment in which a premir("representing" the people but not elected by them) directs policy while a politiburo(central party commity) decides issues;no tolerance of religion or cultural identity, heavily censored media, poor personal freedom causes economy to suffer, military strong--drawbacks zero tolerance causes civil unrest, economy weak
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
584622
1) A political institution that allows citizens to driectly address the government, petition it and change it.\nTwo forms: Direct democracy (Athens) or republic (Rome)... Majority of democracies today are republics \n2) Either way the principle is that any government derives its power from the consent and will of the people.  Any governemnt that ignores this and destroys this connection loses its authority to govern\n3) It works by having citizens involved (directly and passively) in the political and civic life.  It's a little like asking how going to the market works.  How do you choose what product buy, how do you know what is the best and/or the cheapest product?  One stays informed about what is happening in their community, state, and nation.  Then citizens try to vote for the laws or officials that they believe will best address the wants and needs of the society.\n4) The benefit is that the government becomes responsive to the people and is able to change as society changes.  At the same time these changes occur slowly and thoughtfully due to the constant dissent and differing opinions.  DO NOT expect rapid action from a democracy unless it is a National Crisis.  A democracy is intended to seek the middle ground in legislation to accamodate the greates number of citizens while also trying to achieve no harm to any of its citizens.\n\n5) Succesful democracies have seperation of powers between executive, legislative and judicial branches.  They follow the "rule of law" and consider "due process of law" to be the keystone to the entirelegal/political systme.
719943
We are not a Democracy. We are a representative republic. It would lead to chaos if everything that was decided went up to vote. This way you vote the representative in and if the decisions are bad ones you vote them back out. The system has a lot of checks and balances so things that are controversial can't be done quickly.
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.
1127145
In a democracy the masses can vote the posessions and rights from the few.\nIn this hypothetical Democracy \n...there is a guy who owns a movie theater\nthe townspeople get together and decide that movies should be free to everyone.\n\nSensibly, In my country (USA) our forefathers had the sense to create a Republic instead.
603111
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!
116151
The concept of democracy started in Ancient Greece. It was meant to be a government for the people by the people.
423903
Yes democracy is.The people are the legislature in a democracy.
376772
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.
217471
It is a type of goverment where the people are represented. Democracy is just one type, and I can't say that the kind in England and Canada don't do the same thing. Many times in Indian villages, the chief would listen to his people and act upon what they thought. This is another type of representitive goverment.
507138
in general no democracy has ever lasted very long,  America was formed to be a republic, where the need of the government and all people held an importance.\n\nNow that America is switching thier government to a more pure democractic system,  This normally allows for corruption and control by fringe groups ( which we see happening)  It weakens a nation to such a point that there is either a military or civil revolt or the country is taken over by another nation.
781191
A wise man once said that democracy is the worst form of government there is , but it's better than all the rest
368632
Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all others.\nAs for the answer below-Cuba is wonderful as long as you don't like to eat or practice religion.
99793
A form of government that isn't misused?  Democracy is probably the LEAST misused form of government.  Communism might have worked (I still oppose it) in the Soviet Union if it wasn't for dictators.\n\nBy the way, when Lenin came out of exile to rule Russia after the Russian Revolution, he the country was so broke and the economy infrastructure was so bad that he had to set up a temporary capitalist system to generate money into the economy before he could start his socialism.  I find that ironic and slightly humorous--maybe even a small slap to socialists.