what does democracy actually do?
444728
Give the people the illusion of power while fronting a Republic.
474390
A democracy is a form of government where decisions are made by the people.\n\nIn a "direct democracy" every citizen votes for every decision.  This includes who will occupy each office and each government job, and every law and rule, as well as enforcement of laws.\n\nIn a "republic," the citizens elect representatives to offices and the elected representatives make decisions on hiring employees and passing and enforcing laws.\n\nFor a country the size of the U.S., a direct democracy would be infeasible.  Both the Republican and Democratic parties favor a republican form of government.\n\nThe Republican Party generally sides with the interests of wealthy people.  Although they claim to favor conservative financial practices and smaller government, they do not follow those beliefs when in office.\n\nThe Democratic Party generally favors the interests of middle class and poor people.  They are more receptive to deficit spending and financial support of poor people.
643559
Where did that come from? After reading the papers and seeing the latest news, your question seems to stem from the recent protests in India! Even here we see that Indians adopt a peaceful protest when things get unbearable! People power is on the rise, but the government is also listening!\nIndia has long baffled theorists of democracy. Democratic theory holds that poverty, widespread illiteracy, and a deeply hierarchical social structure are inhospitable conditions for the functioning of democracy. Yet except for 18 months in 1975-77, India has maintained its democratic institutions ever since it became independent of Britain in 1947. Over those five decades, there have been 12 parliamentary elections and many more state assembly elections. Peaceful transfers of power between rival political parties have occurred seven times at the central (i.e., federal) level. Since 1967, the party that ruled in New Delhi has not ruled in nearly half of the states. Since 1977, moreover, incumbent governments have been repeatedly defeated in elections. The press has remained vigorous, free, and unafraid to challenge the government, as even a cursory sampling of morning newspapers will show. The judiciary, despite periodic pressure from the federal executive branch, maintains institutional autonomy. Election turnout keeps rising, exceeding the levels typical in several advanced Western democracies. Having started at 45.7 percent in the first general elections (held in 1952), turnout now often rises above 60 percent. \n\nPredictions of an imminent collapse of India's democracy have continued since the 1960s. When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi suspended democracy in June 1975 and declared a state of emergency, it seemed that India was finally starting down the path that most of the world's poorer democracies had already traveled. Yet democracy returned 18 months later, and emergency rule proved to be a conjunctural aberration rather than an emerging structural trend. \nTo be sure, danger signs remain. When unpopular ruling parties are thrown out, hope that the new incumbents will govern wisely and well too often gives way quickly to anguish, but hope always remains!
801516
We really don't have a democracy in the truest sense of the word. We have a representative democracy in which the people we elect "represent" us in Washington DC. Only they don't. And they don't because money has been allowed to corrupt the system in that these elected representatives care more about power politics and what their campaign contributors say, want or do than what the people back in the state or district say, want or do. \n\nThe only way to take back the government is to outlaw money (campaign contributions) to influence  public policy making. How you do that, I don't know. A number of schemes have been tried, but have always failed. Of course, I think they have failed because neither party wanted the reforms to work. They always seem to find loopholes.
1127145
In a democracy the masses can vote the posessions and rights from the few.\nIn this hypothetical Democracy \n...there is a guy who owns a movie theater\nthe townspeople get together and decide that movies should be free to everyone.\n\nSensibly, In my country (USA) our forefathers had the sense to create a Republic instead.
480023
Any type of government is a game for politicians, no matter how you look at it. And not all of us think democracy is good, I don't. After all, it got George Bush elected. Besides, democracy is basically one of the easiest games for liars, and we certainly have a lot of them in this society. We Americans tend to push our views on other people, we're like the big bullies of the playground. We refuse to see other societies views. Sometimes what seems the best isn't.
204252
Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.\n\nGeorge Bernard Shaw
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.
569844
If you watched movie Equilibrium you might guess. Your country has become shadow of democracy ruled by certain designated circles which use and not used to real democracy.
1025390
I honestly believe that democracy does not work in all parts of the world. China would fail if democracy ever happened there. China is a country that has deep traditions, and for that reason China will never be a democracy. On top of that they saw what democracy did for Russia.
812603
Depends--What's your idea of "real democracy"?  Is it where citizens vote for who they want to lead them?  Is so, then I seem to recall a few newspapers might have had a FRIGGIN HUGE PURPLE-INKED THUMB ON THEIR FRONT PAGES after elections in Iraq.  I'm not really sure what that means, though.  Maybe it's just a secret club or something.
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.
865490
No ... How can someone force democracy on someone else? If it's forced, then is it really a democracy? If there is ever to be democracy or peace over there, then they will have to resolve it themselves.
109704
To control the world thru "democracy"
354920
democracy. we control who we vote for and we speak through that person though it dosen seem like it sometimes
603111
many people argue that there really is no such thing as a true democracy.\nEven in the greatest democracies we still elect leaders who may or may not really represent the voice of the people.\nPerhaps a true democracy would operate something like American Idol, where we pick up a phone and text our votes on every issue that comes up.\nThere's a thought!
256765
Like it or not, they are empowered to do a job by the laws in place in that jurisdiction. The laws were voted on by the community. \n\nThat's the way it works in a democracy.