in my oppinion representational democracy is not a true democracy, i believe we wouldnt have attacked iraq if we were living in a true democracy as everyone i spoke to was against it and regardless of public oppinon blair went with bush.
2006-09-14 12:25:21 · 10 answers · asked by BERNON W 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
ski-bum: the problem is that if a people believes that going to war is wrong and its government does what it wants then that is not democracy, thats dictatorship.
2006-09-14 12:43:45 · update #1
The word Democracy has been re-defined by western governments. It no longer means government by the people but refers to an elected government with policies that fall into a very narrow band. When Joerg Haider became a partner in the Austrian Coalition government of 2000, the EU isolated Austria to force his resignation. More recently, Hamas has been forced to form a coalition with Fatah or have Gaza starved.
Within this new and frightening definition, the UK is a democracy.
It is often difficult to spot the difference between our two principal parties and the first past the post voting system offers little chance of success to any newly formed party.
In the circumstances outlined, the people do not have real say in government policies. Either party would have gone to war, irrespective of public opinion.
Even in super-democratic Switzerland, foreign policy is not decided by referendum so it is difficult to devise a workable system that forces the government to listen to the populace in the short term.
Jimmy Carter's comments on the Blair government are worth reading: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/27/nblair27.xml
2006-09-14 13:14:52 · answer #1 · answered by Clive 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how you define democracy. If you define it as "governement of the people for the people by the people" then it is not. What we have here in the UK is government of the people by a political elite on behalf of that elite and thier business associates. What we seem to have is a series of elected dictatorsihips who do not trust the people with decisions about the future of thier country. It is becoming increasingly difficult for independents to become MPs and the House of Commons is becoming increasingly inacessible to the common people. The current moves to have political parties funded by the tax payer will make the matter much worse. If a party cannot manage its own finances how can you trust it to manage your economy? You cannot have true democracy without truth, and this lot are strangers to the truth. Sadly, I suspect it was ever thus and ever will be.
2006-09-14 12:41:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you see the UK being not a democracy they have proportional representation voting system which in my opinion is the best possible option and one of the most democratic voting systems. And as far as your little survey goes theres close to 300 million people in the US and im sure you havent talked to not nearly close to 0.000001 percent of the population so how can you possible state that in your argument.
2006-09-14 12:38:14 · answer #3 · answered by Ski_Bum 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really if it was democratic the public opinion would matter but with this lot even their own party members have got no say and slimy tony will do what he wants regardless he doesn't even think the law applies to him if it doesn't fit his agenda he changes it Ive lost count how many times hes been caught out in lies and if something is so blatant it cant be ignored he insists the party inquires into itself and sweeps it under the carpet. we've got more spy cameras watching us than anywhere in Europe and now they want identity cards so every thing about us can go on one central data base its so bad they control how we bring up our children the only time they are our responsibility is when its gone wrong and its the parents who should get punished and now they are going to identify which family s likely to have delinquent kids and intervene when they are babies
2006-09-14 18:37:48 · answer #4 · answered by keny 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a Constitutional Monarcy
:The powers of the monarchy, known as the Royal Prerogative, are still very extensive. Most prerogative powers are exercised not by the monarch personally, but by ministers acting on his or her behalf; examples such as the power to regulate the civil service and the power to issue passports. Some major powers are exercised nominally by the monarch herself, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and according to constitutional convention. An example is the power to dissolve Parliament.
2006-09-14 12:43:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The UK is only a democracy if you can afford to leave! For the rest of us it's a dictatorship.
2006-09-14 20:29:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is, The envy of the World. However I would like to see a 3 year term so if the populace didn"t agree with the way things are going we can have elections earlier and get rid of the b"stards.
2006-09-14 13:17:30 · answer #7 · answered by researcher 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
79% of the UK did NOT vote for the current government.
2006-09-16 11:11:00 · answer #8 · answered by Darrell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
absolutely not . we r just another american state
2006-09-15 00:53:10 · answer #9 · answered by the black crab 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well its not communist
Yet
2006-09-14 12:27:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋