What democracy means to you?

[Daneshmand]

In honour of the 800th anniversary in 2015 of the sealing of the Magna Carta, the BBC is hosting a day of live events, discussion and debate, across TV, Radio and Online, about the past and future of democracy. #BBCDemocracyDay

Leave a message after the beep for BBC’s Democracy...

So what democracy means to you? In your society, your nation and your environment?

 

[Steve781]

Democracy and freedom are not the same thing. A government elected by 80 percent of the population can use its mandate to brutally suppress the other 20 percent.

 

[Established_1965]

Democracy differs a lot, we just can't compare USA democratic system with Singaporean or with Indian.
Actual question should be "Why democracy differs from region to region? "

 

[gambit]

Democracy differs a lot, we just can't compare USA democratic system with Singaporean or with Indian.

Yes, you can.

Actual question should be "Why democracy differs from region to region? "

No, the real question would involve the MECHANISMS of the democratic process.

Democracy is the allowance of the political participation of the citizenry. The key word here is 'citizenry', meaning one must be a citizen in order to exercise those mechanisms such as voting or running for political office. The mechanisms do differs from country to country, but that is to allow each society to customize the democratic process according to unique circumstances and needs.

 

[Gufi]

democracy is corrupt, directionless people looking for personal gain with no care for the masses...
my view do not want to debate it

 

[gambit]

democracy is corrupt, directionless people looking for personal gain with no care for the masses...
my view do not want to debate it

Let us know when you find something better, then we can debate yours.

 

[DoTell]

The meaning of democracy is different from country to country.

In America democracy mostly means two party dictatorship: Demoncrats or Republicans. Just have to take the lesser of the two.

In India democracy means bragging right, shame cover and recreational drug. "We're the biggest democracy of the world!", as if being a token democracy makes the country civilized and on a higher moral ground. When the economy is not doing well, "we're a democracy"; high illiteracy? "we're a democracy"; high poverty? "we're a democracy". But people need to have hope. The election of new leader brings just that. It's like drug addicts, when it's time they have to take it to get high.

In Japan, democracy means 1 prime minister a year.

In Taiwan democracy means electing 3 presidents in a row with one or more of the following qualifications: he is a Japanese, he is a convicted corrupt criminal, and/or he is legally incompetent.

In Germany, democracy means someone like Hitler better not be elected again.

In the U.K., democracy means for ever being the little puppy of the U.S. and lamenting "democracy definitely is not the best system, but you can't find anything better"

Well, all these democracies also have a lot in common. There is never lack of empty promises from their politicians. Every elected official can talk, act and lie. Everybody blames others for their own fault. The words "people" or "freedom" get used a lot, but their meanings are defined differently depend on who you are. The killings of 2000 people by terrorists in an African country barely cracked the headline because a dozen were killed in Paris also by terrorists.

 

[Gufi]

Let us know when you find something better, then we can debate yours.

one learns from what he sees... and experiences first hand i do not begrudge you your democracy but it is a system that is not really workable here.

 

[papertiger]

Yes, you can.


No, the real question would involve the MECHANISMS of the democratic process.

Democracy is the allowance of the political participation of the citizenry. The key word here is 'citizenry', meaning one must be a citizen in order to exercise those mechanisms such as voting or running for political office. The mechanisms do differs from country to country, but that is to allow each society to customize the democratic process according to unique circumstances and needs.

That is a very bad definition of democracy.

Democracy is a system whereby the citizenry elects its leaders IE they control the political system not just participate in it.
For example many authoritarian regimes allow for token participation of the citizenry in order to appear legitimate. They are not democracies.

 

[gambit]

That is a very bad definition of democracy.

Democracy is a system whereby the citizenry elects its leaders IE they control the political system not just participate in it.
For example many authoritarian regimes allow for token participation of the citizenry in order to appear legitimate. They are not democracies.

It was a general description of democracy. Of course, dictatorships can and often do offers token symbols or even physical institutions of the democratic process, but that fraud actually support my general description of what is democracy.

The Swiss do not have direct election of their President.

Federal Council (Switzerland) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By convention, the positions of President and Vice President rotate annually, each Councillor thus becoming Vice President and then President every seven years while in office.

Does that mean they are not a democratic people ?

 

[ExtraOdinary]

"Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time"- Winston Churchill

 

[gambit]

The meaning of democracy is different from country to country.

In America democracy mostly means two party dictatorship: Demoncrats or Republicans. Just have to take the lesser of the two.

This tells me you do not have even basic Political Science and know nothing of US.

In the US, there are no laws preventing the creation of a third political party. Shocking, eh ? Did you know that the Communist Party is alive in the US ?

Communist Party USA - New York, NY - Political Party | Facebook
National conventions of the Communist Party USA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Communist Party USA has held twenty nine official conventions including nomination conventions and conventions held while the party was known as the Workers Party of America, the Workers (Communist) Party of America and the Communist Political Association. There were also a number of congresses held by the earlier, often underground, organizational predecessors of the party, including the Communist Labor Party of America, the United Communist Party and two groups known as the Communist Party of America. The Communist Party's 30th National Convention will take place on 13 to 15 June 2014 in Chicago.

That right there debunked your criticism of US. The commies held their party convention in Chicago, hometown of President Obama.

So why do the Republicans and Democrats dominate American politics ? Because the US have the basic 'first past the post', or 'winner take all', electoral system that tends to favor two parties politics.

First-past-the-post voting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is a common, but not universal, feature of electoral systems with single-member legislative districts, and generally results over time in a two-party competition.

If you want to debate democracy here, try to get at least a Chinese professor of Political Science to join the forum. Ordinary Chinese like yourself do not make the cut.

 

[Koovie]

democracy is corrupt, directionless people looking for personal gain with no care for the masses...
my view do not want to debate it

Do I need to say more....

 

[Al Bhatti]

If it does not deliver the citizens their rights, it is as useless and bullshit as any other form of government that does not deliver the rights of citizens.

If it works in one country does not mean that it should be implemented or will be showing good results in other countries as well.

Form of government is not important, what is important is what is delivered to the Citizen.

I support Dictatorship or Military Rule or One part Rule or Bipartisan or western style Democracy or any other form of government but provided it delivers to the Citizen and the nation and work with at least 80% efficiency.

 

[kyle Chiang]

There is no democracy in China,so,it means nothing to me.

The first experience I vote is when I am a freshman in university.They give a little red piece to me,let me write a name from three school leaders who I never know.Yeah,I even have no sense for what I vote for?Maybe it's for local representatives.Or maybe it's for who looks better.

However,objectively speaking,I don't agree democracy means everything,because I doesn't live so bad without it.Better living standard is more important for developing countries.