Democracy only sounds like a good system.

[Dinosaur]

A true democracy is actually mob rule with a fancy name which makes it sound like a good system.

There have been times in the history of the USA when an unrestricted democracy might have passed some terrible legislation.​

The USA is not a democracy. It is a constitutional republic.

Our system undoubtedly has some flaws, but is better than any practical alternative I can imagine.

It has the potential to correct bad legislation. Example: I think there was a time when women did not have the right to vote. I am too lazy to check this notion, so would not bet a large sum on my being correct.​

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Look up "Women's Suffrage".

 

[iceaura]

- - - I think there was a time when women did not have the right to vote. I am too lazy to check this notion, so would not bet a large sum on my being correct.

That's a remarkably common condition in the US, especially among those who regard democracy's extension to the wrong people as creating a unstructured and willful mob that needs supervision by their betters.

 

[DaveC426913]

A recent 'The Orville' episode actually had a Absolute Democracy as its premise.

Basically, the whole world was jacked in to Facebook. Everything - every thing, including criminal laws and justice - were determined by upvoting/downvoting.

One character committed a disrespectful but harmless act that was caught on camera, and got so downvoted that he nearly got sentenced to a lobotomy.

 

[DaveC426913]

I think there was a time when women did not have the right to vote. I am too lazy to check this notion, so would not bet a large sum on my being correct.

Seriously? You're not sure about this?

 

[sideshowbob]

Our system undoubtedly has some flaws, but is better than any practical alternative I can imagine.

Since you've never heard of women's suffrage, chances are you've never heard of Winston Churchill either: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

 

[Jeeves]

What is "mob rule"? What is a mob? How does mob differ from polity, tribe or community?
When considering systems of governance, you have first to form some coherent notion of society and social organization, as well as the functions of government.

Emperors, caesars, moguls, sheiks, kings, tetrarchs and oligarchs have made some pretty bad laws. Military juntas have made some pretty bad laws. Theocracies have made some pretty bad laws. Even councils of elders have made some pretty bad laws - though not as bad as boards of directors.
How do you figure a constitutional republic differs from a democratic state?
Republic pretty much means it has to be governed by an elected or selected committee, rather than a hereditary or god-appointed monarch. Constitution means a set of established principles according to which the committee operates.
Direct democracy would mean every eligible citizen votes on every issue that requires a decision. That becomes unwieldy in large populations.
Indirect, or representative, democracy means that a group of citizens - by numbers or geographic districts - choose one person to speak and vote on their behalf.

It's not the form and structure that makes a government bad; it's certainly not the participation of citizens. What makes government bad is corruption.
What you have now is government of, for and by money.

 

[Seattle]

If you aren't certain about women not having the vote at one time why should be care about the rest of your post? You don't seen to know very much so why should we bother to respond?

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If you aren't certain about women not having the vote at one time why should be care about the rest of your post? You don't seen to know very much so why should we bother to respond?

I think that was just a massive sarcasm fail.

 

[Seattle]

I think that was just a massive sarcasm fail.

It was a fail on many levels. There is no point to the actual post. It doesn't ask a question . It just states what Democracy is and points out that we have a republic. This is starting a thread pointing out the obvious.

 

[Jeeves]

It was a fail on many levels. There is no point to the actual post. It doesn't ask a question . It just states what Democracy is and points out that we have a republic. This is starting a thread pointing out the obvious.

incorrectly

 

[birch]

freeganism is pretty cool in that they are recycling or reusing the massive waste.

 

[StrangerInAStrangeLand]

A true democracy is actually mob rule with a fancy name which makes it sound like a good system.

There have been times in the history of the USA when an unrestricted democracy might have passed some terrible legislation.​

The USA is not a democracy. It is a constitutional republic.

Our system undoubtedly has some flaws, but is better than any practical alternative I can imagine.

It has the potential to correct bad legislation. Example: I think there was a time when women did not have the right to vote. I am too lazy to check this notion, so would not bet a large sum on my being correct.​

^^^
The USA is supposedly a representative democracy but even that is a sham.
Our system has many major flaws.
IF you grew up in the USA, you should know. Not knowing, you should look it up. Given that tho, it is quite honest to admit that.
The USA is mainly ruled by money & tho it has shifted a bit back & forth, it always has been.

<>

 

[Dinosaur]

Stranger: Sweden & perhaps some other countries have a better system than the USA. Note that Sweden has much less population than the USA & a culture that is far less varied than the USA culture. It also seems to have less bureaucratic overhead, which might be difficult to achieve in a country like the USA with a lot larger population.

Money has an influence over much activity in the USA. I see no reason to believe that a federal election can actually be bought. There might be some state election which have been bought & perhaps some might be bought in the future.

If you have some information contrary to the above bold blue remark, please provide a link (preferably) or a citation.

BTW: It would interest me if you can provide a link or citation to information the sentence in blue bold text.

 

[billvon]

The USA is not a democracy. It is a constitutional republic.

Our system undoubtedly has some flaws, but is better than any practical alternative I can imagine.

It has the potential to correct bad legislation. Example: I think there was a time when women did not have the right to vote. I am too lazy to check this notion, so would not bet a large sum on my being correct.​

​

Any representative government only works when people can be bothered to educate themselves about what's going on.

 

[Janus58]

​

Any representative government only works when people can be bothered to educate themselves about what's going on.

In the words of Robert Heinlein (as an excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus Long):

"Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men
are wiser than one man. How's that again? I missed something."

"Autocracy is based on the assumption that one man is wiser
than a million men. Let's play that over again too. Who
decides?"

 

[StrangerInAStrangeLand]

Stranger: Sweden & perhaps some other countries have a better system than the USA. Note that Sweden has much less population than the USA & a culture that is far less varied than the USA culture. It also seems to have less bureaucratic overhead, which might be difficult to achieve in a country like the USA with a lot larger population.

Money has an influence over much activity in the USA. I see no reason to believe that a federal election can actually be bought. There might be some state election which have been bought & perhaps some might be bought in the future.

If you have some information contrary to the above bold blue remark, please provide a link (preferably) or a citation.

BTW: It would interest me if you can provide a link or citation to information the sentence in blue bold text.

^^^
For a very long time, we have had a Republican President for 1 or 2 terms then a Democrat President for 1 or 2 terms then Republican then Democrat. Usually 2 terms.
I cannot believe that is only coincidence.
I would easily bet several thousand dollars the incumbent will get a 2nd term if anyone would take me up on it. After any 2nd term, I would bet any amount of money the next President will be of the other party.

<>

 

[Jeeves]

I see no reason to believe that a federal election can actually be bought.

How are political campaigns run and organized? They cost lots and lots and lots of money. That's what it takes to package and market a candidate. Poorly funded and sponsored candidates are at a big disadvantage, and independents have no chance at all.
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-super-pac-3367928 If the supporters of a party buy up a dominant portion of broadcast media, they can appoint their own government.

"Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men
are wiser than one man. How's that again? I missed something."

He certainly did! Governance is not about wisdom - that would be academia.
Governance is about people deciding what they want - for themselves, their community, their future and their children. It's about social organization and administration. Their constitution - the affirmation of collective principles - may have been drafted by wise men, but thereafter, the business of government is to make daily decisions, allocate resources and direct effort as the citizens perceive their needs - routine legislation, not philosophy.

 

[parmalee]

I see no reason to believe that a federal election can actually be bought.

Are you being facetious here? As you (presumably) were when you professed ignorance women's suffrage.

I recommend you explore restrictions placed upon funding, advertising, etc., within Canada's Election Laws--start here >>>http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/party-financing/