Do you think democracy is the best form of government?

Definitely no in the way it is wrongly used in almost all countries in the world. Even when citizen are against a law, it is approved by law makers or decided by gvt itself. In Switzerland you have all the time referendun, here its the real meaning of democracy.

Definitely democracy is the ideal form of government. However, in many cases a gradual transition period is required. To properly educate the benefits of democracy. To dismantle corruption in bureaucracy, armed forces … as bad habits do not disappear over night.

In practice it is just the mandate for the oligarchy.

voted for yes, but democracy done moderately. not too liberal like what we're seeing in the US, but not too strict like in a lot of countries where authoritarianism thrives. I don't have a specific country in mind, but the general rule is the people should have the power to vote out the head of state and any laws that the public deems unfit.

authoritarianism is on the rise under the guise of strong leaders who peddle distorted views on nationalism.

Yes. And Churchill said it best:

https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/quotes/the-worst-form-of-government/

‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’

quercetumToday 08:43 am JST

In practice it is just the mandate for the oligarchy.

In certain countries, but not the majority.

No-one would say that Sweden, New Zealand, or Switzerland, for example, were oligarchies.

I'd very much prefer to live in a Catholic theocracy.

Would it greatly benefit a country if Catholic doctrinal, moral, and social teachings were the actual law of the land?

Of course it would.

Not perfect but more perfect than any other form of government such as fascism.

I'd very much prefer to live in a Catholic theocracy.

Would it greatly benefit a country if Catholic doctrinal, moral, and social teachings were the actual law of the land?

Of course it would

Oh wait! It’s a discredited organization trailing centuries of abuse and other appalling behaviour behind it. Everyone knows etc.

Getting serious, I’d say democracy is the best on offer. Some countries do it better than others.

Yes, but what we have is just a very weak form of democracy. In the US, Trump had the world's richest three people with him at the inaugeration. They brought their wives, one of whom looked like she was wearing a bra without a top. In a real democracy, the world's three richest people would not have any more say than an ordinary American.

A world with strong democracies would not send money and arms to a country committing genocide.

In a real democracy, the world's three richest people would not have any more say than an ordinary American

Money seriously corrupts democracies. Unfortunately the US, the most powerful and influential democracy, has a huge problem with this.

One problem with dealing with this is partisanship often gets in the way. You often hear the ‘populists’ tear into the ‘elites’ don’t like while defending the ones they do.

Interesting and depressing to read.

I think there's a relationship between how educated the general populace is and how well democracy works.

Look at the US - and I'm talking about my own country here, so I can be somewhat objective. While we do have some of the most educated people on the planet (the ones who win the Nobel prizes and so on), a far greater percentage is as thick as two short planks and so proud of their stupidity that they cannot be reasoned with.

Countries with a very high literacy rate and a tendency not to fall for con artists are places where democracy can thrive.

Yes, but what we have is just a very weak form of democracy. In the US, Trump had the world's richest three people with him at the inaugeration

They only have three votes and the total voters in the US is about 160 million.

Tokyo GuyToday 01:58 pm JST

I think there's a relationship between how educated the general populace is and how well democracy works.

This is a very good point.

An educated populace will generally reject authoritarianism, and desire a liberal democracy. Such people tend to want political representation, equality, fairness, transparency, and accountability. Less well-educated people are more inclined to believe the lies of a "strong" leader that says they will magically "fix" everything if they are given power.

This is one of the reasons why authoritarians have always banned books, and targeted intellectuals for "re-education." Sadly, the practice not only continues today, but has been vastly extended into the digital realm.

Less well-educated people are more inclined to believe the lies of a "strong" leader that says they will magically "fix" everything if they are given power.

True, but worth pointing out that desperation can also play a part.

That said, many of the desperate can fall for the idea that ‘things can’t be any worse’.

They can.

Just read an article that said the UK Z generation would prefer a dictator or the army running the country.

It's all smoke and mirrors.

The rich and the powerful will always rule.

JimizoToday 02:22 pm JST

True, but worth pointing out that desperation can also play a part.

That said, many of the desperate can fall for the idea that ‘things can’t be any worse’.

They can.

Yes, good points too.

The key thing is for democracy to deliver for people. When government is (even partly) captured by the rich, those lower down the chain may, as you say, get desperate and turn to something extreme. And whether far right or far left, this is generally much, much worse.

I think that democracy, and the world in general, would be in better shape if figures like Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn had been elected: people that actually focus on delivering "for the many." Hopefully similar leaders will be elected in future.

(Sadly, I can't see anyone in Japan in this vein. The JCP and Reiwa Shinsengumi have elements, but are not the answer for me.)

What do you mean by democracy. UK is a borderline democracy. The USA is a fascist democracy that don't have universal Healthcare and $2.10 minimum wage and importation of $200 billion cocain each year a low standard of education system. China as a better form a governing than the USA when compared the two. India where it full on corruption democracy. Australia has the best where if you not happy with the Prim Minister you give him boot out at any time. You have 1st classed universal healthcare, superannuation for all workers on top of a decent old aged pension. and decent minimum wage $15.12 USD an hour or 2300 yen and hour or 24.10 AUD an hour. 4 weeks paid holidays each year and world class education system. So which democracy do you mean. It easy to see who haves the best type of democracy.

"Democracy" is a commodity that Western countries are happy to trade for resources and autonomy from small countries. And they can protest with guns and bombs against any form of society other than the one they impose.

Viktor Orban became a dictator when he took office. Slovakia did not agree with some ideas from the EU and also became a dictator and was assassinated. Japan is still considered a democracy despite having had only one party in power for more than 70 years....., 

Come on, society is always about rulers and ruled. On a global scale, it's the big fish eating the little fish.

"Democracy" needs a free and honest media and an educated electorate. Half the population are below average intelligence and the press, TV and social media are controlled by a handful of individuals. So no, democracy is not necessarily the best form of government.

A benevolent dictatorship would be best but is as good as a contradiction. Power corrupts is on of the most proven facts of humanity.

Most People in a democracy are content not to have to take too many decisions themselves and to weak to be leaders.

house, garden, kid, car, dog is there understanding of a democracy

They only have three votes and the total voters in the US is about 160 million.

Musk owns Twitter. Bezos the Washington Post, Zuckerberg Insta and Facebook.

That is a huge amount of political power. Democracy would not individuals amass such power, because it inevitably changes democracy into oligarchy. The more inequal you let society become, the more corrupt it will become. Democracy needs pluralism, competing sources of power.

 Half the population are below average intelligence 

And like the joke goes, see how stupid the average person is and realise that half of them are stupider than that.

The concept of 'democracy' as a political system is so amorphous and ill-defined that it's almost pointless to even discuss. Everyone has their own personal definition of what true democracy is or should be. Any examples of democracy failing can simply be dismissed as not being real democracy.

John-SanToday 02:56 pm JST

UK is a borderline democracy.

By what measure? The UK ranks 14th in Democracy Ranking (though I'm sure someone here will shout fake news):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Ranking

The USA is a fascist democracy

It isn't, but Trump would like it to be. The democratic institutions are still holding. Let's see how much he manages to tear down during his term.

that don't have universal Healthcare and $2.10 minimum wage and importation of $200 billion cocain each year a low standard of education system.

Nothing to do with democracy.

China as a better form a governing than the USA when compared the two.

By what measure?

I'd say the US system is, despite its faults, unquestionably better. In China, one unelected man makes all the decisions (like an absolute monarchy), and there are no elections (other than local officials with no political power), transparency, accountability, equality under the law (which is made by/for the CCP), or recognition of basic human rights; plus pervasive censorship.

The government wants your land, or your vital organs? They get them. You protest? They throw you in jail or kill you.

If you want to live in that system, be my guest. However, it is telling that many Chinese want to live in the US, and very few Americans want to live in China. Chinese people even risk their lives to enter the US - just one example:

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/2/22/disillusioned-about-china-more-chinese-aim-for-us-via-risky-darien-gap

Trump praised the UK PM Starmer and called him a great leader.

Trump praised the UK PM Starmer and called him a great leader.

Thus demonstrating Trumps's total ignorance and lack of judgement. Then again he's said similar things about Putin, Xi and KJU.

Trump praised the UK PM Starmer and called him a great leader.

Yeah, but Trump could just as easily have one of his mood swings tomorrow and go off on Starmer. You know that his moods change faster than an ICE agent chasing a brown person.

I think Starmer's doing his level best considering what he's up against: a country suffering from 14 years of mismanagement by the conservatives, a media who seem to want him to fail, and a populace too short sighted to understand that you don't undo that level of damage in a few months. He's definitely made some mis-steps along the way, but what are the alternatives? Bringing the tories back is a non-starter, Reform is out of the question, and the Lib Dems are just there to make it look like we're more democratic than the US because we have three main (-ish) parties.

Only with a well informed population. So in most (all?) of today's so-called democracies, it does work.

Isabella : With the UK which had a recent election overwhelmingly won by the left. Not even a month into governing they would be voted out. I predict the same will happen to Trump but unlike the Westminster system you have to wait until the next election to give him the boot.

A strong Democracy have strong Trade Unions which produces a decent minimum wage. $2.10 is slave labour.

China: By the comparison price at the supermarket which the average China wage buy more at the till to the USA average wage. Chinese earn more then grandparent ever did compare to the USA today where the average two income family earns less then their Grandparents one income 3/4 children family. No decent healthcare system and pay high prices for prescription drugs. Where China has universal healthcare and low price for prescription drugs. Most distant covered for high speed rail. USA no high speed rail . Who care if it is a one unelected man when the average Chinese citizen is better off than the USA citizen. Once the average USA citizen realise how better off the average Chinese citizen they would certainly would not care about the Politic off it, as long as they can have a better life like the average Chinese.

John-SanToday 07:16 pm JST

A strong Democracy have strong Trade Unions

The two are not linked.

$2.10 is slave labour.

This is slave labor.

https://www.politico.eu/article/forced-labor-still-haunts-chinese-region-of-xinjiang-report-finds/

Who care if it is a one unelected man

Plenty. Such as the Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kongers, Inner Mongolians, Falun Gong followers, etc. Along with many regular people who suffer arbitrary abuse and repression.

when the average Chinese citizen is better off than the USA citizen.

This is a highly dubious claim. The groups I cite above certainly aren't "better off" for a start.

The US easily beats China in GDP per capita, both nominal (6th vs 70th) and PPP (8th vs 74th), plus it has political freedoms and human rights that China doesn't.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_byGDP(nominal)_per_capita#Table

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_byGDP(PPP)_per_capita#Table

If your claim is true, why do so many Chinese risk their lives to enter the US (and other countries), when the reverse is not true?

There's probably no perfect form of democratic government. If democracy is defined as "the will of the people", what happens if 51% of the population want to deny rights to the other 49%?

We see various forms of democracies around the world, and the better ones generally have certain laws or systems that protect the rights of minorities to a certain extent. Personally, I prefer parliamentary systems over presidential systems, but neither is perfect.

A Scottish comedian once said (about politicians), "Don't vote, it just encourages them." I sometimes wonder about that. Should we trust anyone who wants to be a politician? Is there a better way to choose our "rulers"? For example, how about local communities choosing a representative, even if the chosen person doesn't want the job? (Probably far from practical.)

I'm sorry I've missed this. Dictatorship has proven no capability to manage a wealthy society except for a few petro-states that largely sponge off of freer countries.

It's the best of all the bad options we've tried so far. We should nominate smart people who don't want power to be in charge though. The more people want power, the less capable of using it for the good of society they seem to be. Just look at Trump in particular. Why did he want power? He was already rich, had a family, was - to some degree - respected among his peers. But there is never enough power for some people. Those are the people who should be denied power. He isn't doing anything for the country, he's only doing things for himself, and he's doing it in a way (executive order, loading the courts, etc) that encourages dictatorship tendencies.

"It's the best of all the bad options we've tried so far. We should nominate smart people who don't want power to be in charge though. The more people want power, the less capable of using it for the good of society they seem to be. Just look at Trump in particular. Why did he want power? He was already rich, had a family, was - to some degree - respected among his peers. But there is never enough power for some people. Those are the people who should be denied power. He isn't doing anything for the country, he's only doing things for himself, and he's doing it in a way (executive order, loading the courts, etc) that encourages dictatorship tendencies."

We can agree or disagree, but your example using President DJT, makes no sense because he have said time and time again he run for the presidency to save the nation from total collapse. And I think you also made hasty conclusion "he is only doing things for himself", ignoring the fact that the guy who just vacated that office pardoned his entire family for current and future crimes. Therefore, your reasoning leaves a lot to be desired.

UK is a borderline democracy.

Untrue, it is the democracy many nations used as a base for their own.

The USA is a fascist democracy that don't have universal Healthcare and $2.10 minimum wage

"In 2009, Congress increased it to $7.25 per hour with the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage_in_the_United_States

and importation of $200 billion cocain each year a low standard of education system. China as a better form a governing than the USA when compared the two.

China has a system of one party rule, no national elections, so the people are unable to have a say or remove the governing party.

The US has multi party elections every 4 years and the peoples vote can remove sitting Presidents, as it removed Trump in 2020 with the largest vote in US history.

The US has by far the better system to China, but no system is perfect.

I feel that a benevolent dictatorship is the best. If you have a very strong, intelligent and caring leader, I think he or she can do a lot to move a country forward without any hindrences. Someone like Marcus Aurelius comes to mind.

The problem is when you get someone who's not quite so kind...

Wallace, GenZ in most democratic nations would like the army involved. so they can sleep at home. Caveat do Gen Z u'stand the army works on it's stomach needs $ nourishment. The effectiveness of any democracy depends upon the education level of the population. To denounce avarice, democracies fail because of greed. true socialist do not need trade unions. dream, dream, dream

All one has to do is compare the PRC and Taiwan: the PRC will never be able to match Taiwan's gdp per capita but will still age out of relevance.

John-SanJan. 27 02:56 pm JST

The USA is a fascist democracy

That's a new one. I didn't know fascist countries had free elections, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and term limits.

Yes, until we can create a better form of government.

There are plenty of countries that say they are democratic, but aren’t. Even North Korea is the People's Democratic Republic of Korea. I wonder if there is a truly democratic country on this planet.

@BertieWooster

There are plenty of countries that say they are democratic, but aren’t. Even North Korea is the People's Democratic Republic of Korea. 

In your view, what exactly makes the DPRK undemocratic? What is the essential ingredient of democracy that they're missing?

Because they have elections and universal sufferage. Every 5 years Kim Jong Un has been elected leader by the Supreme People's Assembly. In turn, each assembly member was elected by the people in their local constituency. Are these elections not 'real' enough to be democratic?

Democracy is good when used for ALL the people, and not for few groups of rich people.

Orwell said it best in his tome, 'Homage to Catalonia' when he stated that democratic-socialism was the only sensible way to run a nation where everyone is equal and free and nobody owned any others as their master. Orwell was speaking from first-hand experience as a volunteer soldier during the Spanish Civil War. Many people also forget that there are different kinds of democracies so the question is rather hard to answer because a direct democracy of mob rule would be chaos and very bad.

M3M3M3Today 10:41 am JST

@BertieWooster

There are plenty of countries that say they are democratic, but aren’t. Even North Korea is the People's Democratic Republic of Korea. 

In your view, what exactly makes the DPRK undemocratic? What is the essential ingredient of democracy that they're missing?

Because they have elections and universal sufferage. Every 5 years Kim Jong Un has been elected leader by the Supreme People's Assembly. In turn, each assembly member was elected by the people in their local constituency. Are these elections not 'real' enough to be democratic?

Can someone run not from the communist party? Can one be a journalist there and not end up in a concentration camp? There you have it.

North Korea is only "democratic" in name.

@TaiwanIsNotChina

Can someone run not from the communist party?

Apparently yes. There are various political parties represented in North Korean elections (which I didn't know before today).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_North_Korea

However, what if everyone who ran in NK has to nominally support communist ideology or be kicked off the ballot? Would that disqualify North Korea as a democracy?

If so, what about Germany? The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution investigates every candidate and political party and bans them from running in elections if they espouse ideas which run counter to, or propose to overturn, the current constitution regardless of how much popular support they enjoy. Does this also disqualify Germany as a democracy?

Can one be a journalist there and not end up in a concentration camp?

Maybe. But is the existence of journalists and media organisations now an essential element of democracy? I don't think journalists as we know them today existed in ancient Athenian democracy, or any example of democracy before the development of modern tabloids in the late 19th century.

I am not smart enough to think of a better system... and based on reality, democracy is the best option.

That does not mean I think this system is the best, just that I don't see a better one.

I think other people (including Winston Churchill) mentioned something similar to this....

The problem is that a lot of countries (the usual suspects) say they have democracy, but they don't - citizens are given a choice of pre-selected corrupt candidates in elections. Candidates chosen by the lobbyists, oligarchs, and AIPAC. And none of the candidates have the needs of the citizens in mind. And then there's the erosion of free speech and the arrests of real journalists who dare to do real investigative journalism instead of parrotting the state's narratives. I call this democrazy.

Just look at the arrest of pro-peace activists in UK which is complicit in a genocide along with its big boss across the pond.

There's NO best, only trade offs.

M3M3M3Jan. 29 05:25 pm JST

@TaiwanIsNotChina

Can someone run not from the communist party?

Apparently yes. There are various political parties represented in North Korean elections (which I didn't know before today).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_North_Korea

This literally says the other two token parties have to accept the Worker's Party's leading role.

However, what if everyone who ran in NK has to nominally support communist ideology or be kicked off the ballot? Would that disqualify North Korea as a democracy?

Yup. No real choices equals no real democracy. Inb4 the US has no real choices. Guess again.

If so, what about Germany? The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution investigates every candidate and political party and bans them from running in elections if they espouse ideas which run counter to, or propose to overturn, the current constitution regardless of how much popular support they enjoy. Does this also disqualify Germany as a democracy?

Sounds like Germany's problem.

Can one be a journalist there and not end up in a concentration camp?

Maybe. But is the existence of journalists and media organisations now an essential element of democracy? I don't think journalists as we know them today existed in ancient Athenian democracy, or any example of democracy before the development of modern tabloids in the late 19th century.

We know precious little of what Athenian society was like. The early US and the Commonwealth of England were filled with different publications espousing radical views. It was quite easy to run an anonymous printing press. One thing is clear, Press Freedom does exist, and China/russia/NK/Iran ain't it.

Why talk about Germany? That country has a Green Party full of warmongers. The chancellor has allowed US to blow up its gas pipelines. They're arresting visiting journalists and doctors simply because these innocent people don't agree to a genocide. They've banned similar people and also Varoufakis, former Greek finance minister, from entering the country because they speak about inconvenient truths. This is not what I call a democracy.

Now that China is Number One as the new Super power relegating USA to economy class with the bogans. It China Socialism that is the world's.best form of governance. No foreign country wants USA dept and selling those treasuries asp. Sure sign that the USA are in deep Sh decline.

John-SanToday 02:16 pm JST

Now that China is Number One as the new Super power relegating USA to economy class with the bogans. It China Socialism that is the world's.best form of governance. No foreign country wants USA dept and selling those treasuries asp. Sure sign that the USA are in deep Sh decline.

Are you under the impression China will get that 3x growth needed to catch the US before it grows old? I guess everyone needs something to believe in.

Pukey2Today 09:20 am JST

This is not what I call a democracy.

Has to be democracy with Chinese characteristics for you, right?

Many of the posters on this fine thread seem to be unaware that the USA is NOT nor has ever been a "democracy" but rather that it is and has ALWAYS BEEN a Federal Union of the many States(currently 50), categorized as a Federal Presidential REPUBLIC.

The elections are conducted in a democratic manner meaning the CITIZENS vote.

The question above itself is worded ignorantly, thus the better answer is NO.

Hervé L'EisaJan. 31 03:59 pm JST

Republic: "A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch."[1]

Democracy: "A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives."

If you can give an example of the former but not the latter, you are more knowledgeable than I.

Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

. . . Winston Churchill

TaiwanisChina:

Has to be democracy with Chinese characteristics for you, right?

Whatever I'd like to see, it certainly isn't the terror state called USA. The most violent country in the world with a record of causing color revolutions, genocides and chaos in other countries while bamboozling its own citizens into believing that extortionate fees for medical care, living in cars, working 3 jobs and living in crime-infested cities is normal.

As Churchill once said , and I think he nailed it. “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.

Pukey2Today 03:06 pm JST

TaiwanisChina:

Has to be democracy with Chinese characteristics for you, right?

Whatever I'd like to see, it certainly isn't the terror state called USA. The most violent country in the world with a record of causing color revolutions, genocides and chaos in other countries while bamboozling its own citizens into believing that extortionate fees for medical care, living in cars, working 3 jobs and living in crime-infested cities is normal.

Pro-tip: if you fall apart when the US breaths on you, you didn't have much of a government to begin with.

Democracy is the only path to live Free with dignity and respect, Just at our world and tell us whom is living better.

Yes, without a doubt.

A two party system like in most western countries is very far from democracy!

SanjinosebleedToday 05:25 pm JST

A two party system like in most western countries is very far from democracy!

Twice as much democracy as in a one party system. Actually it is infinitely more.

I trust the people that voted 'no' are not be hypocritical by then residing in a democracy...