Do you think a democracy is the best form of government

[Mara]

Is it?

[RHooks]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. "

- Thomas Jefferson and others

I have never seen a governments role and what the people should expect from it expressed better. I think the point most noteworthy is that governments should derive their powers from the consent of the governed. It does not say a democracy or even a democratic form of government ( even though it is strongly implied ). We ourselves live in a republic, not a true democracy.

:thumbup:

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."

Was worth repeating. Puts me in mind of some recent situtation we were involved in. There were some pretty smart guys back then. I wish some of them were still around today.

:(:

[0x64657200 0x6A61636B616C00]

"...it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
-Sir Winston Churchill, Hansard, November 11, 1947

[DanTheManPR]

^
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Exactly what I was going to post.

Man, I wish all those smart dudes from back then were still around. Like they say: Geniuses designed the US government to be run by idiots.

[Chylde Roland]

My philosophy is such:

When I vote, I pick the best of the bad apples available. To me, democracy is the best of the bad apples. Governments are so fluid, and the different styles aren't capable of keeping everyone happy all the time, or things running smoothly all the time, but at least democratic rule "tries" the hardest. At least I'm free, and can generally do what I want, so long as I"m not hurting myself or others. That's fair and good enough for me.

[Lou Cypher]

Yes!, need you really ask?

Lou :globe:

[dos.Kapital]

Why not ask? I think it's healthy and important to do so.

It's not like we're a perfect democracy, either. So, as long as we're asking, then there's at least an awareness and an interest to strive that way.

[Cronus]

Benevolent dictatorship would be best. Not a lot gets done in a democracy. Humans are idiots though and can't be trusted with that much power, so democracy it is.

[RangerRick]

A true democracy probably is. The only problem is there is no 'true' democracy.