How essential is it to live in a democracy?

[Laika]

Reading the article below gave me the idea for the poll. As this is a sort of snap shot of how people feel, I've got the poll set to close in 30 days time.

Americans aren't as attached to democracy as you might think | Austin Sadat

72% of Americans born before world war II used the highest rating of 10 (as essential). Whereas people born after 1980 (referred to as "millennials") are more indifferent as less than 1 in 3 held a similar view. Whats your view?

Its hard to know exactly what to say but I rated it about 7. In the UK we have the appearence of a democracy, including many of the legal rights to free speech, free press, etc. These are essential for expressing dissenting and heretical view points and the laws are pretty generous (although laws on religious and racial hatred are tight in the UK). But I have to admitt, its become more steadily authoritarian with counter-terrorism laws, mass surviallence by GCHQ and the sense that the major parties don't represent either my views or the views of the majority of the public at large. Its a managed democracy in which public opinion is manipulated by mis-information, distortion and propaganda to suit the interests of elites through the media. so I'm not enthuasiatic as there isn't a model of a truly "democratic" society to point to and say: "we should be like those guys!" nor is there a political party that rises above treating elections as a marketing stratedgy by having ideals they think are worth fighting for. It could be alot worse though so I felt it should be at least above a 5.

So I'm wondering how everyone else votes and if RF as a whole is a tad cynical and apathetic about democracy?

 

[idav]

People tend to think better as a collective than individuals. I rated need for democracy an 8.

 

[Rival]

2.

 

[Kemosloby]

If nothing else it makes us feel like we had a choice.

 

[wizanda]

This question is too hard to answer, not aware of any true democracies globally, other than small communities... So put 1 or 0 currently.

Most current political states are a monopoly dictatorship, with two party representation to pretend we have a say in anything.

Democracy is where we independently get to vote on the things, and not give up our democratic right by having someone else represent us.

 

[Revoltingest]

 

[Laika]

Well, I'm glad someone voted "10". I was getting worried.

 

[Maponos]

I put 9. I'd much prefer a constitutional monarchy, but democracy is second best, in this case.

 

[Kuzcotopia]

I voted 10 as well.

One day, we'll have enough knowledge and AI modeling to create perfect economic models that produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people, but we are no where close to that yet.

Until then, we must argue and debate for what we believe is correct. Some believe that the greatest good is created by no intervention of a government, where others believe there must be much. Some think that a traditional culture must lead the way, while others prefer personal rights and a multicultural approach.

Our debate and disagreements are learning experiences. We grow, we change, we express refer about the past and hope for the future, and that informs how we refine what works and what doesn't.

One day, we'll have correct answers, and when we do, I'll lower my score.

 

[Quintessence]

I don't agree at all with Austin Sarat's interpretation of that study - he's leaping beyond what the data say. Expressing the opinion that it is not essential to live in a democracy does not mean one feels it is unimportant. For me it means:

• I recognize that no form of modern governance (or ideology, more broadly) is essential to human survival
• I recognize that societies function just fine under many different types of governance (or ideologies)

 

[David1967]

10. I would have voted 11 if the scale went any higher.

 

[McBell]

Since the USA is a democratic republic, it will be interesting how many people think they need to leave the USA

 

[Yerda]

Democracy is something I believe we should defend with conviction and violence where neccessary.

 

[Milton Platt]

Reading the article below gave me the idea for the poll. As this is a sort of snap shot of how people feel, I've got the poll set to close in 30 days time.

Americans aren't as attached to democracy as you might think | Austin Sadat

72% of Americans born before world war II used the highest rating of 10 (as essential). Whereas people born after 1980 (referred to as "millennials") are more indifferent as less than 1 in 3 held a similar view. Whats your view?

Its hard to know exactly what to say but I rated it about 7. In the UK we have the appearence of a democracy, including many of the legal rights to free speech, free press, etc. These are essential for expressing dissenting and heretical view points and the laws are pretty generous (although laws on religious and racial hatred are tight in the UK). But I have to admitt, its become more steadily authoritarian with counter-terrorism laws, mass surviallence by GCHQ and the sense that the major parties don't represent either my views or the views of the majority of the public at large. Its a managed democracy in which public opinion is manipulated by mis-information, distortion and propaganda to suit the interests of elites through the media. so I'm not enthuasiatic as there isn't a model of a truly "democratic" society to point to and say: "we should be like those guys!" nor is there a political party that rises above treating elections as a marketing stratedgy by having ideals they think are worth fighting for. It could be alot worse though so I felt it should be at least above a 5.

So I'm wondering how everyone else votes and if RF as a whole is a tad cynical and apathetic about democracy?

It is by far the preferred way to live....but it it is not essential to live.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

In this age of overpopulation and destruction of the planet, we just may need an authoritarian or totalitarian form of government to enact population control and strict environmental measures. Democracy just can't cut it when it comes to the catastrophes we face.

Voted 1.

 

[siti]

Voted 1 since the closest we have to democracy is the current bipolar pseudo-democratic corporato-partocracy that defines most of the west's political shenanigans - the rest of the world don't even 'enjoy' that much political 'freedom'. And yet here we all are - alive(ish).

 

[Yerda]

In this age of overpopulation and destruction of the planet, we just may need an authoritarian or totalitarian form of government to enact population control and strict environmental measures. Democracy just can't cut it when it comes to the catastrophes we face.

Voted 1.

What feature of democracy prevents us from tackling large problems?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

What feature of democracy prevents us from tackling large problems?

Democracy is messy. It takes too long.

 

[Guy Threepwood]

Reading the article below gave me the idea for the poll. As this is a sort of snap shot of how people feel, I've got the poll set to close in 30 days time.

Americans aren't as attached to democracy as you might think | Austin Sadat

72% of Americans born before world war II used the highest rating of 10 (as essential). Whereas people born after 1980 (referred to as "millennials") are more indifferent as less than 1 in 3 held a similar view. Whats your view?

Its hard to know exactly what to say but I rated it about 7. In the UK we have the appearence of a democracy, including many of the legal rights to free speech, free press, etc. These are essential for expressing dissenting and heretical view points and the laws are pretty generous (although laws on religious and racial hatred are tight in the UK). But I have to admitt, its become more steadily authoritarian with counter-terrorism laws, mass surviallence by GCHQ and the sense that the major parties don't represent either my views or the views of the majority of the public at large. Its a managed democracy in which public opinion is manipulated by mis-information, distortion and propaganda to suit the interests of elites through the media. so I'm not enthuasiatic as there isn't a model of a truly "democratic" society to point to and say: "we should be like those guys!" nor is there a political party that rises above treating elections as a marketing stratedgy by having ideals they think are worth fighting for. It could be alot worse though so I felt it should be at least above a 5.

So I'm wondering how everyone else votes and if RF as a whole is a tad cynical and apathetic about democracy?

There were a lot of people on the left in the US recently, who came flying out of the closet as not being such big fans of democracy after all. Quite an eye opener

I give it a ten, and as true a democracy as possible, whether it always goes my way or not. I trust the average Joe over politicians any day, many on the left explicitly do not share this view.

 

[Yerda]

Democracy is messy. It takes too long.

You might be right there. It isn't too easy imagining how we can prevent catastrophe except by cooperation and we can't cooperate properly without democracy, imo.

There were a lot of people on the left in the US recently, who came flying out of the closet as not being such big fans of democracy after all. Quite an eye opener

I give it a ten, and as true a democracy as possible, whether it always goes my way or not. I trust the average Joe over politicians any day, many on the left explicitly do not share this view.

Praise the Lord! We agree on something!