Do you think we live in a democracy? If so, why is it that everything seems wrong?
80632
Technically, we live in a republic, based on democratic ideals. For example, we don not really have direct election of the president. Even though everyone can cast a vote, this vote is tallied and the results are given to our representative, who then officially vote for president. Hence the electoral college. \nAs for the "everything seems wrong" part, I guess you mean that the government seems to be doing thing that seem wrong. Keep in mind that what the public thinks is right or wrong frequently depends of the media, which is not always objective.
264609
What's great about democracy? is there really one? are we really free? freedom is total utopia... in a democracy, the capitalists rule, the politicians desecrate the laws they themselves constructed, the state swings to whomever holds the ball, and the people are taken in for a ride. thats the pitiful scenario everyday, the poison pill we take each day. why?, we will never be free coz, laws should be taken into consideration and if their are laws to govern us, there is no freedom... and without freedom, there is no true democracy.
821533
no one is happy with democracy. everyone fear.\n\nMany 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 all those others that have been tried from time to time.
269131
Eventually?  I believe this has already occurred.  Those who think Americans live in a democracy are sorely mistaken.  There are two main forces that currently control America: The conservative corporations and the liberal media.  (Neither of those statements are intended to be a negative judgment on either group).  Those two groups are the ones with the money, and the power.\n\nI'm not sour about that.  But I do think that anyone who thinks that every person has a say is fooling themselves.  Both of these groups, over time, have gotten very good at positioning their message so that the majority of people will vote for their candidate.
719943
We are not a Democracy. We are a representative republic. It would lead to chaos if everything that was decided went up to vote. This way you vote the representative in and if the decisions are bad ones you vote them back out. The system has a lot of checks and balances so things that are controversial can't be done quickly.
682414
Yes, that is the crux of democracy is a Govt. for the people,by the people and of the people.But the president administration doesn't seem to follow that, what with all of the secret dealings and spying on its own peoples.Passing laws and tax breaks that only benefit the rich.Elections are coming in Nov. for house and senate, hopefully there will be a change.There trying to come on strong now and act like they're "shaking things up" to me, it's a little to little to late.We need a Govt that listens to it's people and doesn't act like it's above the law and can make it's own rules as it goes.The founding fathers must be turning in their graves.
534835
one might be made to think so. democracy itself, is not all what others might want to adopt.for example, democracy exited long time ago in Africa before the west adopted it. democracy in Africa, was through the kings and chiefs. today in some parts of Africa, it still exits. African governments have adopted the western way of democracy, but does not work for them. so I personally, does not think so.\nit does not improve economical performances, but rather make people in power or in high offices to become more corrupt.
803656
What may be (?) good for the US is by far not necessarily good for other countries. Before installing democracy in a country, that country must be qualified for democracy!\nAs we can see in many countries of the so-called third world, democracy american style there simply does not work. As a matter of fact, because of such democracy forced onto them, among others by the US, many of these countries ended up in plain chaos and anarchy!\nThe system of a country can work to the better of its people only, if this system developed from within and most always will fail, if it is forced onto a nation from outside (like from the US).\nLet the Americans live with their type of regime and give other countries a chance of their own! Eventually a nation may end up with a democracy even better than the one of the US, which is restricted to that check-mark on your poll-sheet!
729094
The technical term for it is a democratic republic so a lot of ppl like to argue it is not a democracy; but, actually it is.\n\nThere are many different forms of democracies with the basic concept applying when the will of the ppl is heard.\n\nIn a republic like ours, we do have this. We elect officials to speak the will of the ppl... to represent the ppl; therefore, we are a democracy. \n\nThe difference between our democracy and say a direct democracy is that we elect regional representatives to do the work, study and research for us in order to make informed choices.
376772
If we believe Tyler, the average age of a democracy is 200 years, then we should be close to the end!!! \n\nBut the theory is flawed, what about the ability to self-correct. Most democracies are driven by not just policies set 200 years ago but also by changes made to it over time. In fact, I would argue that these chain of events would more likely be valid for a dictatorship than a democracy. \n\nAs long as the democracy is willing to change and improve it will remain robust. \n\nAs for statistics for the Bush-Gore elections, they just state the obvious ...majority of the poor voted for democrats while rich voted for republicans.
679013
A bit of both but I do believe most of it is an illusion in this day and age.  The following comes from an entry in my blog called The Great Lie\n\nLast night I sat and read the US bill of rights for the first time since I had to take the constitution test. How many of us have actually done that since we got out of school, read it rather than rely on what is fed to us through the media or people with an agenda? After I was done I sat back and thought over what I had read. What came to me was a few questions. Are all our rights really just an illusion? Do we really have all the freedoms that document says? Anymore I don’t think we do. It seems like in the last 50 years or so people in office have devised many ways to circumnavigate around those rights with laws that take away or restrict principles people fought and died for. To this day that trend continues. As a matter of fact in the last 10 years or so it has gotten much worse. This is a trend that is NOT good. We the ‘sheeple’ have let this happen without much protest. Why is it that most Americans don’t pay attention to what goes on in Washington? Why don’t they follow politics and become involved with the process? Why is it that such a large percentage of people can’t even bother to vote? Don’t they realize how important this is? How can we expect to maintain the rights we have if people don’t seem to care what goes on? Truth is we can’t. If we give those elected free reign to do what they want chances are those rights are going to become privileges in the future. Apathy is a dangerous thing because it doesn’t make people accountable to those that they represent. If we exercised our powers through voting those elected would think twice about catering to special interests that don’t have the people in their district or this countries best interests in mind. They would also pay more attention to what those voters that put them in office want. With what is going on today our founding fathers must be turning in their graves! I very much doubt what is being done today is what they intended when they framed the constitution and bill of rights.\n\nWhat strikes me as being frightening is that people are all in an uproar about things such as gay marriage but pay no attention to some laws being passed that can affect what we hold most dear; our rights and freedoms. The patriot act is one of those things (http://www.eff.org/patriot/). The expanded powers of law enforcement and the government that this law allows is a bit worrisome. Some of what is included in it falls under the fourth amendment of the bill of rights, the amendment that deals with unreasonable search and seizure. That raises the question as to whether or not this law is constitutional. Because of the secrecy the government is now allowed as a direct result of that law it is going to be very hard to tell whether or not someones rights have been violated. Untimely it is up to the courts to decide the matter of its’ constitutionality. But, while the courts debate the issue, what could happen to ordinary, law-abiding citizens in the name of national security could be frightening. This law does away with a lot of our privacy, both in our home and out of it. With only a vague suspicion of wrongdoing the government could monitor everything we do, from checking out library books to listening to our phone conversations. They could even break into our homes and perform a secret search. Our right to privacy is supposed to be inviolate but with this law it isn’t. What it does is do away with some judicial oversight and allow law enforcement to do some things without a warrant that used to require one. To me, what is in that law smacks of communism, something we used to fight against. While the intent of the law is to protect us from terrorists, it also strips away some of our rights in the process. How is that the right thing to do? We shouldn’t have to give up things our constitution guarantees to be
167940
Democracy isn't an ideal system.  There are numerous flaws.  However it is the best form of government on the planet.  With a democratic society you aren't dragged out of your bed and taken off to some field and shot because you made a derogatory comment about your country's leader (Oh yes this does happen in other parts of the world.)  You say that freeing people from this type of persecution is unethical?!?  And these small groups that you are referring to are the ones dragging people out of their beds.\n\nOur founding fathers were living under an oppressive form of government.  If you read the deceleration of independence and even the preamble to the constitution you'll see what they were shooting for,  a form of government by the people and for the people.  Remember we are one of the newest country’s in the world but we also have the oldest constitution still in use today.\n\n\nWe the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America\n\nI truly wish you get the opportunity to travel outside the US.  So you can realize just how good you have it here. I don't know what college you are going to my dear but frankly you should ask for a refund.\n\nAnd remember the Freedom you are now enjoying to complain was paid for with the blood of this country's solders, IE that's why we aren't speaking German, Japanese or Russian.
1011418
Of course democracy exists. What's your solution, eh? Redistributing the wealth so there isn't a wealthy minority? Yeah, that's communism.
1145440
I believe the structure for a Democratic Government is there. the problem is that most citizens are far too apathetic to do their part in making it work. We are allowing the few to lead the majority.\n\n1st..... you have to take the time to keep even somewhat informed about issues. believe it or not it starts on the local level.\n\n2nd...register to vote\n\n3rd... you have to keep these elected officials on task. letter writing, e-mailing, even phone calls. better yet, get involved in local committees for the party you choose.this does not take a lot of you time.\n\nI know, who has the time! our lives are so busy just trying to keep up with it all.\n\nyou now what though?  this is a "catch 22" because as true as this is, the minority is shaping the future for the majority.
678586
Hey KB--these are dark days, but I don't think it's the end of the world, or even of the US. Clearly, democracy in the U.S. is in a bad place right now, and there are a lot of signs that the U.S. world dominance might not be as hunky-dory as it looked 10 years ago. \n\nBut still, we are a strong nation with good people, and over time, we will recover from this. Our democracy will stand, and people will come to see some of the mistakes we've made over the last 5 years. Corruption and short-sightedness are nothing new. We will never completely leave them behind, but we have overcome them before, and we will do so this time.\n\n\n(It might be presumptuous, but I'm going to bet you're in your teens or early 20's...at that age, it often seems like each crisis is the biggest one ever and that some kind of Apocalypse is near, but now that I've got an extra decade or two, I realize that history has it's rhythms and humanity always manages to muddle on somehow).
684468
The main and most important feature of democracy is:- Government by the people.\nSounds really good doesn't it?\nDoes it really exist? I don't think so only in name, the only time 'the people' have a choice is during elections for public office, you will vote for whoever you think will represent your particular station in life and your personal standards. Then what happens when your rep' gets elected? \nDo you then get to have a choice in whatever your rep' is going to vote for on your behalf? or will your rep' just do as he is told by his leaders.\nBefore I start getting mail telling me I must be a 'commie B' I am not trying to advocate a move away from democracy to any other system, but rather a big move towards more democracy, namely to get rid of our reps' that are obviously not conforming to the way we 'the people' want things to be done.\nI don't mean we should wait until their full term of office is completed, I mean have a method of getting rid of them almost immediately!   \nCould this be the reason that we don't have more referendums?
990091
good question.  i've been in countries where there's a soldier on the corner with a machine gun.  yet when i have a cup of coffee with one of the locals they admit they perceive the US as a police state.  it's a quandary.  there is a lot of crime here.  the terrible thing is the more rules and laws, and the more police, the more crime.\n\nin a democracy the level of freedom is determined by voters.