Democracy? do people really decide?

Question

I tried to followed campaigns and elections in some countries
all over the world. It seem to me those who decide winners of elections are different from the masses. what do Say? Straight talk only!

Answer 1

I agree with your observation. In reality, democracy is not necessarily better than any other form of government. Even when the masses do make the decisions, these decisions are not necessarily better. The masses can be just as ignorant and malevolent as one dictator.

Answer 2

Real democracy is alas, few and far between. I am from India.We are the largest democracy in the world, but I wouldn't say that elections are free and fair there. It is either money power or muscle power that decides the fate of a politician. Corruption is rife and the politicians use the administrative system to come into office or to perpetuate their term in office. I guess, elections in the West are much more free, but then the entire voting population doesnt necessarily vote. Often people are not given enough choices when it comes to political candidates and one has to choose the best of a bad bunch. So, though people might be able to vote, they do not necessarily decide. As, they say politics makes strange bedfellows, and I think, that happens much more in democracy, than in any other political system.

Answer 3

Well America is far too large and populous to have a direct democracy. That would require every single individual to directly have a say in every issue that goes down. That is why we have a representative democracy, where the people elect representatives who they think would vote similarly to them on certain issues.

Sometimes this causes issues, and there is some room for corruption, but this is the best form of government that is both efficient and fair to all the people.

Answer 4

Democracy is not total even in this country with some descions that are kept from us in the interest of national security.I think if the people want to be empowered and take freedom by the hand then they will but a lot of people have been so suppressed that they cant make descions and see democracy as an alien thing.Thats as straight as i can put it.

Answer 5

Democracy, in simple terms, is the ability to get rid of a government every 4/5 years.

Assuming the electoral process itself, isn't corrupt, then the masses are free to vote for any of the available candidates. I think, however, that you may be referring more, to the influences that voters are subjected to, during their daily lives.

There is no doubt, that the television media exercises a very powerful influence over the electorate in the way it presents issues. There have been accusations of bias on the part of certain terrestrial channels in the UK.

The other very significant way of influencing public opinion is through the Education system.

In the UK, both the TV media & Education systems seem, on balance, to favour a left wing/liberal tendency.

I cannot speak for what goes on outside the UK, but I know that there are other ways of influencing outcomes, eg. controlling who can apply as a candidate, corruption & intimidation.

Answer 6

Electing representatives is very different from a direct democracy, in which the people would have a say directly on the issues. Wouldn't you like a line-item add or veto on the national budget?

Answer 7

Yes they do, except in marginal elections (USA 2000, Mexico 2006), when the corrupt can manipulate by small amounts to steal the result. But people in the main don't think too hard about their choice. Bad leaders are a result of bad education. The people must learn to think.

Answer 8

people never pick. Its always the representative of the masses. We can vote all we want, but the state representatives have different agendas. Voting is a waste of time. Your vote doesn't really count in a democracy. Look at who's president, if you vote did you vote for him?

Answer 9

I have been voting all my life. I still haven't got the government i want .
What is democracy anyway ?

Its a good looking way of giving wrong people the power ..

Answer 10

If people were capable of making rational decisions, would they buy light beer, Wonder Bread , Pop-Tarts and the idiot currently sitting in the White House?