Is democracy over-rated? (BBC Asks Their Audience)

BBC UK ^ | 3/9/09 | BBC

[Reaganesque]

The head of the Chinese parliament has said that his country will never adopt Western-style democracy. Does this matter?

Wu Bangguo who ranks second to President Hu Jintao in the Communist Party, told the annual session of the parliament that China would never introduce a system of multiple parties holding office in rotation.

Mr Wu said that China would draw on the achievements of all cultures but would not "simply copy" the West.

Correspondents say Mr Wu's statement appeared to be a deliberate rejection of calls in China and abroad for greater liberalisation.

How important is democracy for people's lives? Can China develop without adopting some form of democracy? Are you in China, or the wider region?

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...

[Reaganesque]

This really isn't surprising but, read the comments as well. Socialism is on the march and over in England and Europe, they are honest enough to admit who they are. But here in the US, Libs aren't. So don't let anyone fool you, they are not your dad's Liberals. These people want to change America from its founding principles and install European Socialism.

[word_warrior_bob]

Democracies are wildly overrated, Republics are superior.

[mgc1122]

I’m sure the Muslims in the audience will rate it as overrated ...

[a fool in paradise]

The Socialists have been in England since before WWII. They are licking their chops.

[djsherin]

Democracy is definitely overrated.
Republican government is definitely underrated.

[jiggyboy]

would not "simply copy" the West.

Well don't copy the past two years of our spastic governmental incompetence and active malevolence regarding the economy, that's for sure.

[GeronL]

democracy fails when socialists take power

[Maceman]

Democracy IS vastly over-rated, which is why America’s founders deliberately decided to give us a Republic instead.

[El Cid]

Is democracy over-rated?

Damn straight it is!

A Constitutional Republic - though - that's the ticket...
Regarding a democratic election process - I think that could stand some tuning (e.g., only citizens allowed to vote - with their photo IDs ... and preferably only citizens that pay income tax)...

[Ukiapah Heep]

I'm not surprised it would come to this. Living in a solid blue area with only token GOP opposition, I've been waiting for the day when the liberals started to whine about how inconvenient and unnecessary elections are.

[shempy]

Democracy is nothing more than mob rule unless individual rights are enforced by a strong constitution.

[djsherin]

Said it before me.

[goodnesswins]

YEP...what YOU SAID.....YES..."Democracies ARE OVERRATED.....REPUBLICS are Superior"

[Aroostook25]

Democracies are wildly overrated, Republics are superior.

EXACTLY! And republics are overrated as they approach a democracy and/or oligarchy where the masses and/or oligarchy can vote themselves bread and circuses paid for out of the public common wealth. Congress is now an oligarchy and the Democrat masses are approaching an anarchist democracy.

[GOP Poet]

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[Puppage]

Is democracy over-rated? (BBC Asks Their Audience)

What do Subjects know of democracy?

[Retired Greyhound]

Good call. I was about to say that.

Democracies lead to problems. Republics lean on the rule of law.

[Question_Assumptions]

Tell the English to take a good long look at Prince Charles and his adulteress before answering that.

[RED SOUTH]

Our founding fathers were wise. A republic with laws that limit the government gives people the freedom they need to
be succesful. Democracy is mob rule and is the fastest way
to oligarchy. Right now we have become a democracy on our way to an oligarchy that will rise out of what is left when our system finally caves in from too much government and taxes and spending voted in people who demand to be taken care of for life.

[Question_Assumptions]

I understand and agree that pure democracy is mob rule but when most people hear "democracy", they don't think about a philosophically pure democracy. It's like the leftists who argue that Obama isn't a socialist and his policies aren't socialist because they don't fit the strict definition of socialism. It misses the bigger point which is about giving people say in their government by vote, as opposed to authoritarianism, where they don't.