True democracy is a form of mob rule sort of like the French Revolution's Reign of Terror. The greatest gift that the Founding Father's gave to future generations was the concept of the Bill of Rights to protect the individual from the excesses of mob rule or an out of control government. We are currently trying to curtail those protections out of a fear for terrorism or at least that is what we are being told.
In the US, we presently have mob rule by irresponsible news-as-entertainment-and-palliative, distorting feedback between policy, media, and polls, creeping dictatorship by Executive Order, and two dominating parties both catering to the very same corporate financiers. It's close enough now that Americans had best stop this trend and turn it around at this time.
Even a despotic minority can do it if the majority stupidly lets themselves be convinced it's in the national interest.
I personally think democracy is the best form of governance there is, but in limited form. I do not believe that all people have a right to vote, I do not base this on power, or wealth, but rather intelligence. I am fully aware of the issues pertaining to the question of intelligence, but I think a mere examination of the key issues should suffice. For instance a short questionnaire about key issues pertaining to the budget deficit, just to make sure that they know there is a budget deficit. Or to point on an unmarked map where Iraq is located, or other such basic questions that should be answered for any potential voter. Non-partisan questions about issues, also it would force more Americans to care, and to learn. Everyone benefits.
I like the map pointing question. Just image how many people actually think each item through or copy each pre-selected answer off the free voting guide/postcard thingy?
Undecided - who makes the questions that decide if people are intelligent? BTW, what was your vote? Yes? I'm glad that you like dictatorships; I will accept that as proof of your intelligence. Any system can be bent. "Democracy" has already been bent. Demanding stricter controls on voting than already exist will not help the individual to be heard... it will only place more power in the hands of those who actually make the decisions.
Undecided - who makes the questions that decide if people are intelligent? I would suggest university professors, or simpleton high school teachers. Yes I'd opt for high school teachers. I don't think the question "is there a budget deficit, or do we have National missile defense, or point to Iraq" is partisan, do you? Simple intelligence, not super-brains. BTW, what was your vote? Yes? I'm glad that you like dictatorships; I will accept that as proof of your intelligence. Thank you, because I believe that if you really want to the job done then there is no better way. Sorry but I don't attach infantile emotions to words, then I am being a pretentious subjective prick. I am sure you could tell me differently?
A dictator is generally someone who gets in by foul means over fair, then hangs onto that post by whatever means possible. Amin, Hitler, Stalin, Blair to name but a few Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Dictaorship has a lot to offer but i think that it is so dependent on the person that is elected/takes over as dictator that this makes it to open to ending up with a nut case in charge who will (obviously) be difficult to remove. Anyway, someone said they like democracy because they get a say in how the country is run- but basically - how much say do you have in a democracy? You can decide who to put in power and they then get to do whatever until their term comes to an end. OK, u occasionally get the odd referndum, but otherwise all the decisions are made by a group of people (varying amounts for different governments) with barley any influence by the people.
I would not need to, unless I needed you to vote again. Did you vote? My dictator would allow freedom of expression, but would reform the economic structure. Democracy by no means ensures "freedom".
Candy hits the nail on the head!! BAAANGG!!! Good going! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Godless.
Yes I agree. But same can happen under a democracy. The success of a democracy comes in when u have establisehd and independent institutions eg judiciary/accountability, law and order (police force), educational institutions and free media. these are largely the protecting fortresses of a democracy. without them a democracy becomes a dictatorship of oligarchs. In the evolutionary path of some nations a benign dictor (who hopefully sets the foundations for these institutions) is a better option. Because a dictator ultimately knows he's there for a 'short' while; and thus setting the foundations for a functional democracy in the future. Or atleast that's the hope/intention!!
I shell speak only good of porfiry's forum, seriously! I don’t want to be arrested by the secret police and banished to the netherworlds of the net. By the way Wellcome Overlychallenged