democracy is inherently flawed....discuss...

[andyandy]

thought i'd open a can of worms.....

For the past several hundred years of human civilisation the global community has gradually converged on the democratic model as the ultimate way of fair governance.....so much so that its almost accepted as the "default setting" - people free to choose choose democracy.....and democracy does work on many levels, providing a degree of accountability to government that no other system can acheive....however there is one major flaw.....the democratic model only achieves good short term results.....
a case in point global warming (if u dont believe its happening then follow this through as a thought experiment - its still valid)

The amount of carbon dioxide in the air has doubled since the start of the industrial revolution - and all projections agree that it will continue to rise throughout the 21st century. Many scientists agree that there is a "tipping point" at which the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere enters into a loopback system - at which point massive climate change is inevitable and irreversible. despite an accepted real threat "sometime in the future" attempts to limit emmisions by the Kyoto protocol have failed miserably - largely due to the democratic process. Governments around the world generally rule for 4 or 5 years. Once in power their primary concern is re-election after those 4 or 5 years. that means their policies need to be quick fix - "in two years we've cut crime by 20%" "in the last 4 years unemployemt has hit an all time low." That's all well and good....but which politician wants to stand on the election stand and talk about how he can save mankind at an indeterminable point in the future by imposing a 40% tax hike on gas, raising base tax 10% to pay for the transition from carbon based to renewable energy and accepting that the economic slowdown and job-losses as a result of his policies will be hard to take but "worth it in the long run?"
the point may be slightly laboured, but what it comes down to is this - democracy is unable to deal effectivly with long term issues for which the solution requires short term hardships. That's why we have a pensions crisis looming....that's why no-ones doing anything about global warming - for both these issues when the crunch comes it'll be too late for short term policies to fix them.....
so anyone any better ideas? - maybe some kind of infinitely wise and good dictator - his opinions universally respected by the populace - able to push through long term policies without any fear of being voted out of office....
please discuss

andyandy Reviewed by andyandy on 04-26-2006. democracy is inherently flawed....discuss... thought i'd open a can of worms..... For the past several hundred years of human civilisation the global community has gradually converged on the democratic model as the ultimate way of fair governance.....so much so that its almost accepted as the "default setting" - people free to choose choose democracy.....and democracy does work on many levels, providing a degree of accountability to government that no other system can acheive....however there is one major flaw.....the democratic model Rating: 5

[Psycho4Bud]

"maybe some kind of infinitely wise and good dictator - his opinions universally respected by the populace - able to push through long term policies without any fear of being voted out of office...."


LOL.....this is the beginning of the story for Mabus. Ultimate power can corrupt the best of men. Like the ring in "Lord of the Ring"

Have a good one!:thumbsup:

[OtterPop]

If you have something that works better for the people than democracy then please enlighten us. I agree that it is a short term solution to a long term problem. I dont think that we need a new system I think the system we have needs to undergo some changes but not so that you end up with a different system but so that you end up with a better model of the current system

Mabus? LOL

Isnt bush mabus? History repeats itself. We infact are living in medevial times but with a different outward appearance. We are repeating the crusades and whoever leads wouldnt they fit a good description of being the 3rd anti christ?? War or terrorism?? ha! War on islam.....

[andyandy]

If you have something that works better for the people than democracy then please enlighten us. ...

....well i was hoping that we'd have a new and improved system mapped out by the end of the thread

[pisshead]

the US isn't a democracy anyway...it's a republic. there's a big difference. if the country operated as it was founded, there'd be a lot more freedom. but it's always up to us to make sure we keep it that way.

but over generations societies are manipulated.

and i think society is inherently flawed, for always falling for the same government tricks, and succumbing to tyranny.

but you need an informed citizenry who has studied history and who knows the constitution and bill of rights. then you look at the department of education and find that their purpose is to dumb down kids and make sure they don't know history or their rights, and teach them they have no rights.

it never ends. the corruption is so rampant.

[OtterPop]

Exactly, its changed slowly but surely so you wont know the wiser

Put a frog in a boiling pot hell jump out
Put a frog in a pot and slowly boil, hell die

Same goes for american societies, subtle changes arent noticed by the whole and the people that DO notice them are either A.) Disregarded because they are going agaisnt the flow of the mainstream or B.) Wont voice their opinions in fear of persicution/riddicule

[andyandy]

maybe we could hook up some supercomputer as the new global leader....incorruptable (at least morally and financially), a tireless worker (24-7 no need for long summer breaks), not sexually promiscuous (no dirty scandals or dirty dresses to deal with...), able to plan decades into the future....
it would bring an end to political image over substance and soundbite campigns - unhampered by elections which allow people indoctrinated by biased media outlets to decide issues that they don't really understand.....

i guess only one problem....who's gonna get to program it? hmmmm....
i spot a flaw.....well i'll have another toke and another think

[Gumby]

http://filmstripinternational.com/fi...trip=despotism

this is what democracy is... and how we've been lied too... they have been telling us for 60 yeras... it's the fact that people don't teach others rather than tell them what they think is right...

give a man democracy he'll live it for a day, teach a man democracy he'll live it for a life...

LEARN THIS - http://filmstripinternational.com/fi...trip=despotism