were can i see the actual and practicable meaning of democracy?
94471
I do not agree with the last answer before mine. The United Sates of America does not have a Democracy. We have a Repubic, where we elect people to represent us. In a true Democracy, all citizens vote on every issue. It is as simple as that. The people truly have power, and do make the decisions. However, because of the population of the world now, getting every citizen in a country to vote on every issue would be a chaotic mess. Also, this would it much easier for people to change ballots (something Jeb Bush obviously did to get his brother George elected for President in 2000).
938270
download democracy player or go to youtube for starters. they are free!
118524
In my personal opinon I feel that your question can be answered on your definition of democracy.  Many political philosophers from the past such as Hobbes, Locke, Mill, and Rousseau express societies responsibility differently.  \n\nOn one side you can define democracy as "the principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community (American Heritage Dictionary)."  If this is the case then who has the right to tell another person what they can and cannot do.  The individual must be respected and must have a freedom as described in J.S. Mill's works "Utilitarianism" and "On Liberty."  He believes that people should be granted the maximum amount of freedom in oder to be happy and that other people should not interfere.\n\nWih that another definition of democracy is when "the common people, considered as the primary source of political power (American Heritage Dictionary)." According to Hobbes, Rousseau, and even Locke people should have a freedom to do what they like but not at the cost of violating the laws of nature or at the possibility of being a danger to society. If society dictates that abortion is bad, well for the sake of maintaining a stable society people within that society should adhere to the laws passed by the majority.\n\nWell thats my two cents.....
327643
Democracy means that the people should call the shots. But in order to make important decisions, it is essential to be informed, to know what's going on. Certainly, the Iraqi people did NOT decide to have their country bombed and shattered by an alien nation, although they pretty much expected it to happen. \n\nDemocracy can even be harmful if those who make the decisions are hungry, or uneducated, or ignorant, or simply not fully aware of things. In a poor country, votes can easily be obtained in exchange for food, shot-term solutions or even promises. Democracy goes a long way; it's not just getting the people to cast ballots; it's showing them they way. \n\nSo, I don't approve of the US "spreading" democracy the world round, since they do it by first carpet-bombing the nation and then teaching them to vote. The US "freedom wars" are but an imperialist spree for an oil-thirsty nation. No one with anything resembling a brain would buy that "antiterrorist, preemptive, freedom&democracy" stuff.
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.
575622
Real Democracy existed more in America when everyone in America took part.  When everyone was watching the news and discussing candidates.  \n\nDemocracy is Government for the People, By the People - pure and simple.  it is hard to make that work with less than 60% of eligible voters actually getting to the polls.\n\nIt's a group of folks all working toward a peaceful society and willing to discuss and make compromises.  It's people serving time as elected officials, because everyone has to chip in and help - not because it's a good way to get rich.\n\nI think Democracy exists in America today, but more so in our smaller Community Organizations - Mother's Clubs, etc.  A group of like minded individuals working together for no extra pay to create something valuable, while respecting each other's right to be different.
576184
The definition of a democracy, in its most basic form, is a government of the people, meaning the people make the decisions.\n\nIn Athens, the people who were included were free men of 18 or older. Slaves and women were not allowed to vote. The men gathered together and everyone was allowed to speak his mind on an issue. After everyone who wanted a say had had time to speak his mind, the entire group voted on the issue at hand.\n\nModern democracies tend to be representative democracies. Both men and women are allowed to vote after they reach the age of 18. Usually, they vote for representatives who represent them and speak for them at government meetings. There are a few isolated small towns in the US that still practice the older form of democracy. They hold town meetings and everyone who wants to speak gets a chance, and then they vote on the issue at hand. But for the most part, in a modern democracy, decisions are made by representatives. At the local level (state, county and city) people often vote directly for an issue that has been proposed by representatives, such as tax levies for schools or roads, amendments to state constitutions, etc. But issues at a national level are decided by elected representatives.\n\nTo sum up, the biggest difference between the two kinds of democracy is that the Athenian democracy was a direct democracy, where each individual was allowed their say and voted directly on the issue. Modern democracies are representative democracies, where the people vote for a representative who speaks and votes for them when it comes time to decide an issue.
120125
3: dictatorship; laissez-fair; democratic
1093341
The state will always be a reflection of the people. There will never be a universal, man made, working democracy. We'll all see to it with our sterling character and compassionate hearts.
291791
In part there must be an agreement as to what the term participatory democracy means.  I believe that its meaning isn’t the same for everyone.  In the simplest meaning, all people of a given society are able to directly impact the acts and directions of the society.  \n\nCertainly in a small society this can have merit.  Say a community of 1,000 people get together for each decision and discuss it and vote.  Even here though there will be decisions which must be made too quickly to get everyone together and some individuals will be selected to address those decisions.  For example, will they all be the local sheriff and all participate in the decision making to decide when evidence dictates who is to be arrested or a traffic ticket issued?  Or will that function and responsibility be given to selected individuals?  In this sense that participatory democracy is replaced with some form of representative democracy and clearly as the size of that society grows, the need to expand the representative function will also grow.  The point is that it is doubtful that this form of representative democracy of full citizen participation is actually functional.\n\nIf by participatory democracy it is meant that the majority of the people shall rule in all situations, then what exists is a form of mob rule where the minority does not have and shall never have rights.  In this form the Founders were very concerned because they believed that such a form of government would ultimately lead to dictatorship.  \n\nIf participatory democracy is meant to be citizens having the power to be aware of government acts and intent, and to have the power to discuss it, and to have the power to influence elected and appointed officials, then that exists today.  It exists as an elementary part of the Constitutional Representative Republic developed by the Founders and now functioning.  \n\nAnyone or any group has the right to find out what government is doing or intends to do.  Further, anyone or any group has the right to address any elected official through right of petition for redress of governmental acts.  In the final analysis the citizen holds the power over the governmental officials by the vote.  The citizens can vote anyone in or out of office.  However, there is a problem with this, that is, for it to work the citizen must become involved.  That is, attend local work sessions of local government.  Belong to groups of citizens (usually having similar views) who keep an eye on elected and appointed officials and make real use of the right of petition, the power of the vote and the power of the court.  \n\nIt is now, as it has been for over two hundred years in the hands of the citizen to mold and control government.
53740
I'm impressed by these answers... usually people say "Democracy."  I don't know if the term "Democracy" was even used before Woodrow Wilson coined the phrase "We must make the world safe for Democracy."\n\nWell, perhaps it was, but I think that Wilson meant it as a more generic term for free societies, and somehow it mutated into a catch-all description of our form of government, which, even after the ratification of the 17th Amendment, is still, in my estimation, a Republic.
209257
A myth.  A true democracy has NEVER existed.  A true democracy everyone from childhood to death, free and convict get a say in EVERY issue.  This doesn't even work in civic organization such as 4-H where there is still a governing council to make the mondane decisions that the average person just doesn't care about.\n\nThen you have to factor in there are issues that society as a whole can't know about because those who are enemies would exploit the information.\n\nBy the way we are a Federal Republic.  A Federal Republic is a system with divided and diffused power.  Each level has their own power and own responsibility
290371
First, lets define democracy (and thus, being democratic): \nde·moc·ra·cy NOUN: \n1-Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. \n2-A political or social unit that has such a government. \n3-The common people, considered as the primary source of political power. \n4-The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. \n\nThere are people in both parties who agree with these principles. There are an equal (or greater number of people) who prefer to be 'herded around' by the media, be it FOX or ABC. I, and most of the democratic-leaning independents I know, put little faith in the corporate controlled media. I do know a few conservative Republicans, my mother for one, who believe everything they see on FOX news. \n\nAs for being democratic, I believe the country has strayed from being a democracy. The government is still a government by the people, but more and more power is being wielded by corporations and special interest groups. The common people are no longer the 'primary source of political power'. This is the fault of both parties. As for definition #4, democrats tend to believe in this one more than republicans. So if both parties believe in #1 and #2 in principle, #3 has been subverted by both parties, and #4 leans heavily on the Democratic party side, I ask you this:\n \nWhich party is not democratic in thinking?\n\nDemocracy or being democratic has nothing to do with being 'herded around'. It has everything to do with 'social equality and respect'.\n\nRepublicans, on the other hand, believe in the US as a republic. The definition is very similar to the definition of democracy, but #4 is curiously absent.
163952
It is a Republic that practices democracy. Democracy is the idea that leaders are chosen by the people through election, by majority rule. We are a democratic Republic.\n\nNobody claims that the US is a "democracy" (I don't think any government is really called that word). Even in part of the Pledge of Allegience.. "And to the Republic, for which it stands.."
858537
mm well if this is what you meen, democracy is when all of the citizens send in votes for who they want to be president, and to decide which person to vote for, all of the people that are wanting to be president ( I forgot what they are called during this time) have a campaign and tell what they will do as president, the person with the most votes (which had the best campaign) wins the election and becomes president
999177
Will this help?\n\nhttp://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=What+democratic+laws+did+the+English+establish+after+their+Glorious+Revolution&btnG=Search&meta=
807511
democracy is a farce. \n\n\ngo castro.