Isn't democracy a bad idea to begin with?

It's Saturday. You want to have a quite morning reading the book you were too busy to read with a nice cup of coffee. Your wife wants to attend the garden, then go to the mall. Your two kids wants to go to Disneyland.

You vote. You believe in democracy.

3 hours later, why aren't you surprised that you are caught in a 6 hour trip to Orlando, Florida?

America had her moment of glory. It's gone now. She used to have that because most ppl think hardworking is still preferable. Now? Now it's different. America had just figured out, thanks to their new president, that they can vote to get whatever they want.

 

Democracy works so long as the population is educated. The problem is education, not democracy. And plus, what alternative are you proposing?

 

No, democracy works when liberty and common sense trumphs the will of the majority.

In my view, democracy should only be used for things that concern everyone and to which everyone has contributed. And preferably as decentralised as possible. And the basic principles shouldn't be up for vote: freedom of speech for example, is no less valid just because moe than half of the population think differently.

In essence, democracy is just two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. I see nothing uniquely just in such a system. It's at best just a compromise.

 

I agree with this. An uneducated democracy is about the most dangerous thing imaginable. A democracy where the electorate cannot or will not utilize common sense in their decision making is like riding a roller coaster with no seat belt.

 

democracy is a beautiful thing when it is based on a strong set of basic laws, the natural rights our founders saw as so obvious. when we begin sidestepping those rights for the sake of greed and expediency, democracy shows its fatal flaws. we have been eroding those rights for decades. our representatives have traded the rights of individuals for the desires and votes of the mob. the lambs have become the wolves and our faulty sense of justice sees this as entirely fair.

 

It's all about making sure the population is educated. When that happens, a democracy is possible. Otherwise, it's just a government controlled plebiscite.

 

What is the standard for "more educated"? Most voters in America are under-informed and ill-enlightened over economic issue.

 

Beat me to it with the two wolves quote: Usually attributed to Franklin, and true as ever. And that's why we live in a constitutional republic and not a democracy. Democracy is really nothing more than mob rule with a cool-sounding name. And the tyranny of the majority is just as much tyranny as that of a single despot. Frankly, the ideals of democracy are completely incompatible with the ideals of liberty. The Republic? Now that's where I'll place my bets...

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Exactly. It devolves into nothing but mob rule. And fast. And you'd better hold the majority view or else...

 

But what do you mean exactly by "educated?" Because that can just as easily be read as "indoctrinated."

 

The problem with democracy, in my view, is that as a species we lack objectivity. It's just not in our DNA to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. So we tend to gravitate toward individuals and ideas that resonate with us psychologically because it feels comfortable. The only cost is our liberty, so really what's the big deal? And you know what they say about those who will trade their precious liberty for a little comfort... they deserve neither. At the end of the day, we get the govenment we deserve.

 

Don't worry all you America/democracy hating conservatives, Glenn Beck is working on building a new society for you to reside in! A place where your fantasies/prayers about secession and stripping rights away from women/minorities have been answered.

This should be a smooth transition for conservatives, many already rely on Beck for his spiritual/financial/political advice, now he can be your leader, a dream come true!

 

Democracy is a stage of social evolution , some people seem to be social Neanderthals .

 

No, democracy is devolution, going back to mob rule.

 

How many people do you think watch or listen to unbiased news stations?

 

Ah another one....
Demos stands for the citizenry and you are saying that they are not capable of making decisions for themselves ...
This makes you mob in need for a daddy .

 

Democracy was rejected as the form of government in the United States and instead it was created as a Secular Constitutional Republic.

Don't they teach this in school anymore?

 

Most Americans consider politics as something to never discuss and education shouldn't need a $100,000 loan that takes a lifetime to pay off. And really EVERYBODY wants to work hard, very few people don't, but smart people aren't dumb enough to work hard for a pittance while their CEO has his own Jet! I'll take free stuff over minimum wage if I can, fukk the 1%!

 

being halfway literate would be a good start

 

All democracies fail and that is why America is not a democracy but a Constitutional Republic.

 

The main thing that is destroying liberty and common sence is mass media (fear and fight instilling propaganda) and politics (deception, and causing fight in a majority instead of liberty)
The answer is that politics need to cause liberty in the people (but they will never do this, they need power), and then democracy is hardly nessasary, because when people have no problems they don't need solutions (which are never given since the beginning of politics, because this is how they cause fight in the people, and by that a revolt and/or organisation)
Liberty (and no more bureaucracy, means transparency, no more secrecy and locked doors) is the best 'democracy'. The problem is the stronghold, the system/establishment, but if you want to try to break that stronghold apart, they cause you to fight it (you never should fight head on), it is this fight that leads to the end of a nation and liberty. The answer is knowledge that fight is going to take away liberty, because if a majority had the knowledge (common sense) what is going on, the situation would defuse, and people/nation would stay free. Fight leads to revolt and organisation behind a leader figure, knowledge about that this is going on leads to a defused situation (path towards downfall blocked by knowledge)

 

And the people earning over 250,000 a year didn't vote for Bush because he was offering tax cuts to them? No, of course not. People only just now, right now with Obama, figured out that they should vote for someone who acts in their interests.

The OP is just rubbish.

 

Mob rule is fine, as long as you are on the same side as the mob.

On the other hand, strictly limiting the power that the mob controls benefits everyone-since everyone is likely to be on the opposite side from the mob on some issues.

 

I hope you wasn't talking about me. I'm no Beck fan and I'm no conservative.

 

Yes, evolve toward a society where every part of your life, medicare, education, parenting and electric bills were covered by the government. That's the anti-Neanderthal society.

Oh wait, you mean if democracy were allowed to develop unhindered, people would, at global scale, all magically give up their property rights and build a heaven on earth.

Because you believe what you believe is THE TRUTH, the one and only true words of truth, so no one would even think about debating or debunking you, right? And besides, you have a few Stalin tricks up your sleeves for those who dares to.

BTW, you can quote me. You don't have to be scared

 

Enter the US Constitution....which says NO to frivolous and knee jerk populism....or was supposed to....until American politicians figured out a life of power, prestige and celebrity could be purchased with other people's money.