Reason wrote:
Also, who said democracy is such a good thing? The first democracy in recorded history has only been in effect for 250 years and by all accounts things are swirling the drain. Inflation, loss of rights, the whole fucking world hating it.
I agree with Vass wholeheartedly here. Learn history. Also, which democracy are you *actually* refering to here?
Reason wrote:
And there are a couple things inherently wrong with democracy, first and foremost is that it is Mob Rule. Decisions based upon the masses. And history tells us that masses of people are not known for making smart decisions.
And here was I thinking that the basic provisions of any theoretical democracy were there to make sure that mob rule are impossible. Mobrule, or Ochlocracry as it's know, differs from democracy in that when you have this you have no governmental frame work, no formal authority at all - not even a generalised policy of anarchy - and only the constantly fluctuating opnion and desires of the mob to direct society. Whereas I accept the fact that I am only theoretically splitting hair in accepted political philosophy I will point out that democracy, which has a series of checks and balances, a governmental structure (no matter what this is) and a deffinite process by which compromise in respect to the civil rights of (hypothetically) ever member of that democratic state is reached before action is taken. True it's rule by the majority but this does not make it synonomous with the idea of mob rule.
Of course my argument is weakened by the fact that outside of theory all democracies are on some leveled flawed because a system which truly represented every idea within it would not work, as choked with disagreement and paper work as it would be me. Never the less, that's the problem with politicacl theory and you just have to work around it to apply it.
Reason wrote:
The most drastic example would be Jesus. The head Roman guy (you can tell I'm not very religious) asked the mob who would they rather release; A mass murderer/rapist or a guy who claims to be the son of God, who's been running around the place doing good deeds and basically saying "Be good, ya'll."
I disagree with your citing of biblical texts you've previously disparaged in other threads. The bible itself, in most matters and certainly not excluding this one, is a set of stories used to teach people. True the 'head Roman guy' - Pontious Pilate for your information, not the head Roman Guy but probably the governor of Judea certainly did exist and evidence has be found to assert this. However there is no real historiacl proof at ALL save what is written in the bible - a source which we know to directly contradict well document Roman Historical sources on numerous occasions - the either this story or Jesus himself existed. You're using a parable as an example. It doesn't work given the nature of the source.
Reason wrote:
The Senate is also mob rule, they have to vote on everything. Did you know that 86% of the senate don't even read the majority of hte bills they pass/deny? They don't read them!
Which senate? Where? Ancient Rome? Are we still talking about that?
Reason wrote:
It's just a pet peeve of mine when people talk about introducing Democracy to anotherr culture like they're handing them the key to salvation. It's just a different system of government, and it doesn't look like it's any better than the rest.
I agree with this on a basic principle. Democracy is something your country has to want itself for it to work. That's the thing about democracy. When you enter into a system of governance which asks you to compromise yourself for the benefits of the masses then it's only going to work if you want to because you believe in the idea of the democracy.
It's something you have to work on. Look at Europe - we've been working on it for what seems like forever and we still can't even agree with the people next door to us, let alone across a very small Channel of water. I still believe that democracy is in most circumstances the best fit option we have right now. I'm not saying it's the correct one or the one that will work for the countries who do not have it yet but it's the only thing we've got that even gets us close to the idea of equality and global conciousness.
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Reason wrote:
Sides Communism.
What does that even mean?