What Does Democracy Look Like?

We Americans like to assert that democracy is the best form of government, and that our country does it better than anyone. But, as we approach our Independence Day, how many of us really understand what democracy means?

Are we a democracy because we hold elections for public office? 

If so, does that mean every other country that holds elections is a democracy, even when we and other countries question whether the outcome was valid?  Does it mean Iran is a democracy?  Is Iraq a democracy?  If we force democracy on another country, is it still democracy? 

Are we still a democracy when we attack another country and take out a dictator and replace him with our own choice of dictator, who was also not chosen by the people of that country? 

Are we a democracy when the residents of our nation's capital are not allowed to have elected representatives who can vote in Congress?  We also have several territories that do not have representation in Congress. 

Are we a democracy if other countries question the outcomes of our elections?  Do we have more right to question their elections than they do ours, because we are the self-proclaimed "Leader of the Free World"? 

Some food for thought...

Happy holiday, everyone!

 

Comments

[Jerry Scarborough]

Actaully Aubrey, we're a Republic, which really answers the question of D.C representation. But, I get the drift of the question. And, I need to ask some more questions.

Are we a democracy when our government, reagrdless of the party in power, is so beholden to unions, or bankers, or other groups that speak only for themselves, and not the common person That it cannot legislate effectively?

Are we a democracy when a wealthy developer can get government to confiscate privet property on his behalf, so i can be used for a higher purpose?

And, for you Democrats, now that the 2000 election has been offset by Al Franken being given the U.S. Senate seat in much the same way that Bush was given the presidency, are we once again a democracy. Or were we really a democracy all along.

[justmeiguess]

Hey, as long as the rich get richer, and the Middle class is shrinking, and the poor know their place. As long as large corporations and banks are TOO big to fail, but can Offshore jobs to OTHER third world countries. As long as OUR elected officials cannot tell the difference between an immigrant and an ILLEGAL immigrant. We are heading to HE77 in a handcart. DEMOCRACY nice word that's about it.....

[Jon M.]

Democracy was invented to give the masses the illusion that they actually have a say in the things that happens to them.

[Timo Kokko]

I just finished reading the absolutely remarkable "John Adams" by David McCullough; I commend it to all. One of his many thought provoking statements, which was reprinted in the LSJ today is "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Thomas Jefferson added "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure." As clearly the US is not composed of moral and religious people anymore, it may be time to rethink both our Constitution and our republic. The lawyers and politicians have gained entirely too much power; the balance to the people needs to be redressed somehow.

[rukidding]

Timo :

You forgot to include the corporations amongst those who have too much power.

[EricD]

Adams wrongly equated moral and religious. Plenty of christians, especially the conservative type, are not moral (the list of prominent offenders is too long to include here).

Timo thinks that the country is no longer moral, but that it was. Since many of the founding fathers were slave owners, they didn't understand morality any better than Timo does. I will take promiscuity, divorce, and atheism over slavery.

[Timo Kokko]

EricD,
Please explain to me what I don't understand about morality. If you are comparing me in any way to John Adams, I consider that a tremendous compliment.

As slavery was legal at the time, as was the fact that women could not vote, does that mean all the founding fathers were immoral? The fact that slavery was (and is) wrong, does not change the historical fact that it happened. It is a great credit to our country that we recognized it and ended the horror. While womens' rights don't fall in the same level as slavery, the lack of rights was wrong and also was corrected.

I would suggest any group of people that could come up with the Constitution fully understood morality; they weren't perfect, but they were right good.