- 06 Nov 2009 14:35
#13226089
Hi all, first thread in 2 years and it will be a short one. Lets see how rusty I am….
People who want power (for whatever reason) get into the positions of power, because by nature those who don’t want power don’t apply. Thus the crucial difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is not the sort of person who gets into power, but how accountable they are to the people who put them there.
If a dictator or Monarch does a 'bad job' (like Mugabe arguably has) what do you do? There is no way to replace them or change their policies, and no way to ensure said policies benefit anyone in the country except said dictator and followers. If a democratically elected politician does a 'bad job' (and they usually do) we can get rid of them for someone else who may, or may not, be more efficient or representative instead.
Furthermore politicians in a democracy, being ultimately self serving, can protect and promote their positions by pursuing popular policies, and when they pursue unpopular policies their careers crash and burn *cough that sounds like Iraq*. People vote by self interest so thus it is in the politician’s interest to represent and promote what the population thinks is best for them.
So democracy in crude terms represents
So we pick our leaders, compel them to our benefit, and replace them when or if they fail at provided. Thus democracy serves our self interest, serves our sense of fairness, and is the best system of governance available in the world for now… Thoughts?
People who want power (for whatever reason) get into the positions of power, because by nature those who don’t want power don’t apply. Thus the crucial difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is not the sort of person who gets into power, but how accountable they are to the people who put them there.
If a dictator or Monarch does a 'bad job' (like Mugabe arguably has) what do you do? There is no way to replace them or change their policies, and no way to ensure said policies benefit anyone in the country except said dictator and followers. If a democratically elected politician does a 'bad job' (and they usually do) we can get rid of them for someone else who may, or may not, be more efficient or representative instead.
Furthermore politicians in a democracy, being ultimately self serving, can protect and promote their positions by pursuing popular policies, and when they pursue unpopular policies their careers crash and burn *cough that sounds like Iraq*. People vote by self interest so thus it is in the politician’s interest to represent and promote what the population thinks is best for them.
So democracy in crude terms represents
- A system of checks and balances by which we can pick and replace our own leaders
A system where those leaders are motivated by self interest to seek the public benefit
So we pick our leaders, compel them to our benefit, and replace them when or if they fail at provided. Thus democracy serves our self interest, serves our sense of fairness, and is the best system of governance available in the world for now… Thoughts?
A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five. G.Marx
Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak and that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws. J.Adams
Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak and that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws. J.Adams