Provocative question: Is there a system of government better than a democracy?

[Random Variable]

And if there isn't, how would you change the current democratic system to make it better?

 

[Amused]

We are not a pure democracy, and for good reason.

A pure democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.

 

[ndee]

Is there a system of government better than a democracy?
Anarchy.

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: AmusedOne
We are not a pure democracy, and for good reason. A pure democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.

Who gets to decide the recount. hehe.

 

[yellowperil]

I'd say a democracy is favorable, but not feasible. You can't get a general populace vote on every issue, for several good reasons. A democratic republic is the next best thing. However, right now I'd say government is accountable too much to specific interests rather than the general population.

One way to make it better IMO is to change the election process (I mentioned this in the 3rd political party thread). Make Election Day a national holiday and get rid of voting registration. Less than half of the eligible voters voted in the last election. The candidates did not have to appeal to the interests of the other half, because they don't need them to win the election.

 

[Pliablemoose]

We're more of a Republic...

 

[tcsenter]

Sure there is, there have been several highly successful and beloved dictators and monarchs. In fact, there is nothing better than a monarchy when your King or Queen is benevolent, has won the hearts and minds of the people, cares deeply about his country, and is a thoughtful moderate on virtually all matters. No professional bullsh-tters to elect, no highly partisan and bitter fighting, no political horse trading, etc.

However, that dude is going to die one day...whose gonna get all that power to next and will he possess all the same qualities?

 

[Bignate603]

There is a system that's better for the people, benevolent dictatorship. If the dictator is truly benevolant and makes decisions for the people rather then for himself it IS better then democracy. However, because of the nature of people that want to be rulers someone thinking about the people is not their priority. To achieve this we'd need to find a very intelligent person that doesn't want to be ruler...

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The answer to the question depends on what you mean by best


Rome was not a democracy, but was highly successful.

 

[911paramedic]

Yes, but you are on a deserted island and the only other person there is named "Wilson".

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
The answer to the question depends on what you mean by best


Rome was not a democracy, but was highly successful.

Rome had very different government structures depending on what period you're talking about. At one point, it was a republic somewhat like our own.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

In a pure environment where greed, corruption, and the like don't exist, where man is a pure and perfect member of society, Communism works better than Democracy.

nik

 

[nihil]

Communism or utopian anarchism are two great government systems. Of course communism only works when it is implemented correctly, which as of yet has not been done.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: nihil
Communism or utopian anarchism are two great government systems. Of course communism only works when it is implemented correctly, which as of yet has not been done.

Given the nature of men, Communism can never work. Communism requires men to become virtual worker bees with little to no indviduality. An impossibility, to say the least.

 

[Random Variable]

We are not a pure democracy, and for good reason.

A pure democracy would be chaotic because every decision would have to be unanimous.

 

[Amused]

I don't think anyone can deny that a democratic constitutional republic has been, by far, the government most kind to individual liberties, and the most successful in the modern world.

 

[Random Variable]

Given the nature of men, Communism can never work. Communism requires men to become virtual worker bees with little to no indviduality

That's not true. In a communist state (which contrary to popular belief has never existed) the people have all the power.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Vespasian

Given the nature of men, Communism can never work. Communism requires men to become virtual worker bees with little to no indviduality

That's not true. In a communist state (which contrary to popular belief has never existed) the people have all the power.

Yes, but for it to work without corruption, they must give up their individuality. No one can want to get ahead or become better than his peers. They have the power, but cannot use it for individual gain. If they do, the entire system falls apart and becomes exactly what we've seen in China, the USSR and Cuba where the few have the power, and the rest are subserviant with little to no individual rights.

 

[tcsenter]

Communism or utopian anarchism are two great government systems. Of course communism only works when it is implemented correctly, which as of yet has not been done.

Oh brother, the infamous 'communist delusion': Communism has been an unmitigatible disaster that has resulted in tens of millions of deaths and economic ruin EVERY WHERE it has been attempted because...why?

Nooo, not because its a completely bankrupt ideology...but because the 'right' people weren't in charge, or it wasn't implemented the 'right' way...blah blah blah. When will they ever STOP with this inane and foolish utopian pipe dream?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

You are indeed correct Amused. I will maintain that although the governments may have changed form, the idea of Rome was fairly constant in the minds of it's citizens, until things started to fall apart. Notwithstanding, this does not fall strictly within the confines of the question as asked. So that brings up a different but related point. Perhaps it is not just the form of government, but the attitude of a nations citizens.

 

[Stiler]

There will never be a "utopian" government simply because of this one thing i'm about to tell you -

People do not like to be told what to do - Stiler.

 

[nihil]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Communism or utopian anarchism are two great government systems. Of course communism only works when it is implemented correctly, which as of yet has not been done.

Oh brother, the infamous 'communist delusion': Communism has been an unmitigatible disaster that has resulted in tens of millions of deaths and economic ruin EVERY WHERE it has been attempted because...why?

Nooo, not because its a completely bankrupt ideology...but because the 'right' people weren't in charge, or it wasn't implemented the 'right' way...blah blah blah.

Okay, you're right. I believe every word you say. Democracy is the way to go and the US is the most free and just nation on earth.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Vespasian

Given the nature of men, Communism can never work. Communism requires men to become virtual worker bees with little to no indviduality

That's not true. In a communist state (which contrary to popular belief has never existed) the people have all the power.

Communism is based on the flawed idea that all work has equal value. This is not true, a doctor contributes more to society than a janitor. Both are valuable jobs to be sure, but a doctor's job saves lives and requires very special training and a very smart person to do a good job. Communism, since it doesn't allow classes, would give just as much reward to a doctor as to a janitor. This would remove a lot of incentive to be a doctor. Our society would fall apart. Even if a true communism was created, it would still have the class problem. Peoples' incentive to work hard is to become members of the upper class, at least in most cases.

I have to agree that our current system, a constitutional republic, is the best system so far. Is it perfect? No. But it's better than a lot of other systems, and it is being widely copied because of that fact.

 

[nihil]

Originally posted by: Stiler
There will never be a "utopian" government simply because of this one thing i'm about to tell you -

People do not like to be told what to do - Stiler.

You're obviously confused. Utopianism has nothing to do with that quote nor government at all. If anything utopianism is the complete absense of government.

 

[Ramsnake]

Originally posted by: AmusedOne

Originally posted by: Vespasian

Given the nature of men, Communism can never work. Communism requires men to become virtual worker bees with little to no indviduality

That's not true. In a communist state (which contrary to popular belief has never existed) the people have all the power.

Yes, but for it to work without corruption, they must give up their individuality. No one can want to get ahead or become better than his peers. They have the power, but cannot use it for individual gain. If they do, the entire system falls apart and becomes exactly what we've seen in China, the USSR and Cuba where the few have the power, and the rest are subserviant with little to no individual rights.

yup very true..the brand of communism in ussr was one of state being above the individual, the individual rights were sacrificed for the so called " maintainence of the state".