What democracy means to you?

[Koovie]

Democracy is where the people decide about their future.. and not some self proclaimed rulers or even worse, some religious leaders who enforce their ancient views which are based on some book written by some random guy over a thousand years ago....

Its where everyone is equal and lives under the laws made by the people or their representatives. Its where anyone can be politically active and thus, be a more active member in the political world.

 

[Al Bhatti]

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.

You forgot Lebanon

 

[Pakistani E]

The tyranny of the majority...

 

[jamahir]

The tyranny of the majority...

that is exactly what western "representative/parliamentary democracy" means... tyranny of the majority whose opinions or selection are somehow superior to that of the losing candidate who has lost in that number game called "elections".

parliamentary democracy is really anti-democracy... real democracy is direct-democracy socialism.

 

[gambit]

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.

If you -- meaning your people -- is satisfied with physical comfort without political freedoms, then more power to you. You just need to know that for those who exercise political power over you without your consent, they will resist every way from giving it up. That is why there is the saying: "It is better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees." The kneeling here is the lack of political freedoms. Such freedoms means much to a lot of people, so much that they are willing to die for them. The Tibetans in your China is an example of that.

 

[jamahir]

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.

exactly... dictatorship of the majority.

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.

superb post.

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 ?

let me see the american establishment/military allow a president from the communist party.

 

[gambit]

let me see the american establishment/military allow a president from the communist party.

It is called 'campaigning' and 'voting'. The Marxist candidate must PERSUADE the American public to vote for him. I know Marxists like you prefers bullets over words, but verbal persuasion is how we do things in the US.

 

[Schutz]

Masturbating out my window and sitting on my *** when election day comes, post a spliff through the ballot box and cheer with a photograph, OH YEAH DEMOCRACY I LOVE YA.

 

[vostok]

Democracy? This is the power of the majority, the power of ordinary people. After 1991, there is no more democracy.

 

[kyle Chiang]

If you -- meaning your people -- is satisfied with physical comfort without political freedoms, then more power to you. You just need to know that for those who exercise political power over you without your consent, they will resist every way from giving it up. That is why there is the saying: "It is better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees." The kneeling here is the lack of political freedoms. Such freedoms means much to a lot of people, so much that they are willing to die for them. The Tibetans in your China is an example of that.

I understand your meaning,and I have read some books about western politics,culture, philosophy,ect.The brilliant thoughts,creation and indeed pursuit for truth of great western ancestors shocked me when I were a child.With growing up,I get access to Chinese traditional culture treasure house.It give me another world.I wish China can be a Chinese style democracy country at one day.But the physical comfort should be the first step.

The political solution is similar as well.No things are ultimate right.Does western style democracy politics play the end role of human beings?We are just finding our own way.Meanwhile whole world has been witnessed the success of Chinese model.

All Chinese will admit that our political system is not good now.But it doesn't means we only have the way to copy western one.Western country,such as America,has undergone a long period from savage and wild to advanced and civilized.So,don't act as us Chinese in several hundred years ago,don't always think western countries are always the center of the world and others must follow.

I think western countries can play a role to keep international peace and give some suggestions to China.But you have no rights to decide which way we go.All things are up to our people.

When talking about Tibet or Xinjiang,I only think you should come to have a real visit and you will turn your thoughts completely.Before 2003,don't you believe that there are WMD in Iraq?
China has join in international order for about half century and become the second large economic entity .But most American know China lees than Justin Bieber.

 

[jamahir]

It is called 'campaigning' and 'voting'. The Marxist candidate must PERSUADE the American public to vote for him. I know Marxists like you prefers bullets over words, but verbal persuasion is how we do things in the US.

i pity those of usa who were persuaded by vague statements like "yes we can".

 

[Genesis]

If you -- meaning your people -- is satisfied with physical comfort without political freedoms, then more power to you. You just need to know that for those who exercise political power over you without your consent, they will resist every way from giving it up. That is why there is the saying: "It is better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees." The kneeling here is the lack of political freedoms. Such freedoms means much to a lot of people, so much that they are willing to die for them. The Tibetans in your China is an example of that.

The Tibetans knows nothing of democracy, and nothing of freedom, like the people in Egypt, if we leave, they be just another third world shithole, hell bent on shitting the bed each and every night.

You won't disagree with me on the actual nature of the Lama would you? There's UK and US documentation on what the Lama and the Ruling class actually are.


In terms of physical comfort, let me ask you this, if America was poor, would you still say democracy was the best? So in essence, shouldn't democracy in developing countries provide that economic benefit? What's the point of Nike Shoes, if it's going to make you jump worse.

If it's the best system, it should really provide that service, it definitely shouldn't be a speed bump to it. BTW, I'm not arguing that it sucks.

 

[DoTell]

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 ?

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.

So, I have to be a "Political Science professor" to even talk about American democracy? Is every American voter as good as a political science professor? In a way I do agree with you. Just as everything else in a society, we should leave it to the professionals to figure out the things that are in their specialty. You don't vote for who to be the top scientist, professor, doctor, the CEO of a company. Why must you vote for your country's president? A high school dropout gets the same voting right as a political science professor, does it even make sense?

Oh, on the two party dictatorship, no that's not what your law says, it's what has been happening. Once in a while a rich dude would come out challenge that, it takes tremendous among of money and energy. The propaganda machines of the two parties would go all out to kill it. No one has done better than Ross Perot who himself didn't even come close to being a meaningful challenger. So these two parties take turns ruling the country happily there forever...

You forgot Lebanon

Thank you sir. May I please add Iraq, Egypt, Libya? To many people in these countries, perhaps democracy means anarchy and loss of livelihood.

 

[OldenWisdom...قول بزرگ]

What democracy? Magna Carta a document that enshrined position of peasantry and aristocracy? England that still has such a divided and class based society over the centuries this is the norm this is the system!

 

[gambit]

The Tibetans knows nothing of democracy, and nothing of freedom, like the people in Egypt, if we leave, they be just another third world shithole, hell bent on shitting the bed each and every night.

You guys always harp on US about 'imposing democracy', right ? Therefore, you are implying that we should leave countries alone. So here is China's chance to show US up. Leave Tibet alone. Let the Tibetans go. Let them chose the choices that inevitably will be available to them. Is that what you are afraid of ? Choices for Tibet ?

In terms of physical comfort, let me ask you this, if America was poor, would you still say democracy was the best? So in essence, shouldn't democracy in developing countries provide that economic benefit? What's the point of Nike Shoes, if it's going to make you jump worse.

If it's the best system, it should really provide that service, it definitely shouldn't be a speed bump to it. BTW, I'm not arguing that it sucks.

When America was poor, the early Americans chose democracy because they instinctively knew that if given the opportunity, they would make their own comfort and wealth. And they did.