Is Democracy Actually Dying? Break on Through

[communitykat 0]

Democracies have historically only lasted 200 years. America is just over that historical limit. Anyone see democracy fading in America, even with the "campaigns" to spread democracy across the globe. People in America are actually afraid to speek out against the man. Americans! They are supposed to be free, and pursuing happiness. The more they fear, the more they shut up. How about that. That is how democracy falls. Well, if I ever get my website up it will be devoted to motivating citizens. Americans think that the government should do everything for them. That is leaning toward socialism, and I don't think Americans know what path they are heading down. They should be blaming themselves, not politicians. Justice Scalia once said that if the people cannot tell him how they want to constitution interpreted, he would have to listen to the people who put him there. For most congressmen, presidents, etc. they listen to the money. Why? because you have to raise at least one million dollars to be a senator and even more to be the president. If the people do not tell the leaders what they think, the money sure will. And that is what is happening in America today. I hope I can set up my website soon.

[ghostrider 0]

I don't know whether or not I think democracy is failing in America. I don't like the fact that we are still in Iraq, at first I thought that the war in Iraq was going to cause some real good in the war, like I believe a lot of people did when the war first started, but now my Dad and I share the same view; the war in Iraq is turning into another Vietnam. I've noticed a pattern with democracies, at first people are excited by the fact they are trully free and go and vote and give their opinions for important matters, and then slowly get lazier and expect the government to give them more and more. Perhaps America will be strong enough to overcome this. There hasn't been a democracy that has been as successful as us yet, and I hope it continues to be that way. By the way, if you keep posting as detailed as this post, you should have the necessary credits to get your hosting in just a couple days.

[jlhaslip 4]

Democracies have historically only lasted 200 years.

I would like to see some data to confirm this opinion, please.

How long have Democractic Governments been in place in England, for example. Perhaps the 200 year number is an AVERAGE life span? and when you consider that some newer countries with Democratic governments are younger than 20 years, this number could be accurate only if they are averages. And as someone once said, the three greatest sources of mis-information are lies, damned lies and statistics.

[communitykat 0]

I would like to see some data to confirm this opinion, please.
How long have Democractic Governments been in place in England, for example. Perhaps the 200 year number is an AVERAGE life span? and when you consider that some newer countries with Democratic governments are younger than 20 years, this number could be accurate only if they are averages. And as someone once said, the three greatest sources of mis-information are lies, damned lies and statistics.

Data, data. Well it actually wasn't that easy to come up with hard data. I am going to have to take this issue on with a research paper. However, in all of my searching I found that the issue is a hot one. There are three main contenders, Ancient Athens/Switzerland/USA. There are muttled definitions of democracy. Two legislative bodies, freedom (what about women/minorities?), or general self-perception (China believes that they are a democracy). Anywho, the fact remains democracies have not historically lasted very long, and your request truley is splitting hairs. Athens had a ruling class, Switzerland didn't give women equal rights until the 80's and is generally (although it has had the longest two chamber parliment, and seems to be the most sucessful county all around. Also is the only country on Earth where citizens partake in direct democracy) and the U.S. is actually a democratic-republic...not a pure democracy. It is very interesting and scary to think that freedom (however you want to define that) has not been the norm throughout human history. It is also scary to think of how easily societies can go from being okay, even somethimes free to dictatorships and genocides. It all depends on who takes power and who validates that power, who gives authority to that power. That is scary. Back to the issue of Iraq, if we are trying to spread democracy there then why did we send troops in that could not speak their language, or have any training on their culture and what it was envisioned to become? Why did we not have any educational or strategic tools for setting up a democracy? We still are not educating the citizens about what a democracy IS. Did anyone consider what democracy would mean to Iraq and Iraqi culture? There are still two very important questions American leaders have not asked and Americans have not demanded be asked: Why did someone fly planes though the World Trade Centers, and who EXACTLY is responsible. There are only a couple of handfulls of democracies around the world and they are all very specific to the cultures hisory. We need professionals to develop strategies and educational tools if a new democracy is planned. Why aren't we doing these things? Why were we there to begin with, which brings us back to...is democracy dying in the U.S....I knew and senators knew and CIA agents knew that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq (just google it). Should I believe that the average American is really so dim that they did could not see the facts through the propaganda? That they have too much faith in the govenment? Or should I believe that they are scared and do not see a path of action for themselves? Any way democracy is shakey. The great thing is that the United States is a uniqe and poweful democracy, because of its roots and progressive achivements as a society...and if the present generation and new generations are taught how to maintain a democracy and what a gem it really is, the American tradition will continue. I really could go on and on, I feel the urge to spill onto the outdated "realist" perspective and how it has affected history. Can I check my spelling on this?

[Zues 0]

The best thing about democracy is always changes, it is never perfect but sways from one side to the other. If something catastrophic happens like the world trade center towers, naturally security will become enourmous and privacy will vanish. But when that reaches it's limit, we will sway the other way. Privacy will be paramount and security nill. USA"s democracy is probobly the most free every in history, so you can't really compare it with anything else. As long as the people have freedom in their mind, they won't let anything to kill it happen. I think democracy will not die, but change into something better, it'll be resisted, and slow, but the swaying is good and keeps the country near good so it dosen't matter if it's not perfect, because perfect only happens in a dictatorship when a leader who is good controls everything.

[greenyb118 0]

Well firstly I'd like to point out that England has had a democratically elected parliament since the 15th Century which overthrew the Monarch in the 17th Century - there's three hundred years there for a start. Democracy is in fact growing as it has been for the past few hundred years; sure there are occasional hiccups like George Bush - who I suppose is actually more like a bad case of the flu, but my point stands nevertheless. The world is becoming increasingly aware of human rights, and while I do not condone the Iraq or Afghanistan 'wars', there are fewer dictators in the world now than ever before. Democracy may be a bit ill at the moment, but believe me, it's getting better.

[mojoman 0]

democracy has been around for over 2000 years lol...the ancient greeks invented it

[greenyb118 0]

Yeah but they got beaten down by the Romans. Decidedly not a democracy until later on, but even then it wasn't really a proper democracy.

[Watermonkey 0]

I don't suppose it matters to anyone that the United States is NOT a Democracy....

 

The United States is a Representative Republic and even at that level it's failing rapidly. It's also a hidden monarchy in that 37(or some very significant number) of the presidents and many other higher elected politicians (John kerry, W.J. Clinton, Richard Cheney, *Any* Bush, and too many more to list) have been relatives of various thrones, especially the British Throne. Do your own research if you don't believe me, it's well documented.