Democracy ?

Question

Are there disadvantages to the way democracy operates in the United Kingdom ?
Or do we live in a perfect democratic location ?

Answer 1

I haven't really studied how the UK system works, but here in the US for example it isn't a true democracy.

In a true democracy every person gets a say on every issue. Think how long it would take to pass a law if every time you had to wait for the people to vote on it.

Instead, we get a say on every issue through the representatives we voted into office. This is called representative democracy, or a republic.

And I know you have a Parliament at least, so you don't have a true democracy either. In fact, no large political entity does, its just to unfeasible.

Answer 2

There are disadvantages to Democracy period.

As soon as people realize they can vote themselves a bigger piece of the pie and do so, the government is doomed to fail. It will eventually collapse because it is required to take more and progressively more from the producers to give to the non-producers. On the other hand, under a dictatorship people finally realize the pie is tiny because the dictator is taking 90% for personal use and they rise up to either take over or be gunned down. It seems to me the world's nations are locked into a sort of roller coaster ride between a totalitarian state with an economic system resembling communism and a democratic state with an economic system resembling capitalism. Please note I said "resembling".

Capitalism is doomed to fail because it produces while Communism is doomed to fail because it doesn't. Democracy is doomed to fail because it gives the people a voice in their government while Totalitarianism will fail because it doesn't. The mechanics of their failures will be different, creeping vs. clashing but change is inevitable. As long as there are people, there will be problems regardless of any perceived "perfect democratic location".

Answer 3

The main disadvantage is the voting system. Although there is loads of others. In the UK as in the US we have plural-majority voting which basically means that the country is divided into seats in the parliament and therefore if a seat is close say 40-60 or whatever, then the 40% of the people don't get represented, because their vote is discarded. that's why labour got a majority government with only 23% (i think) of the public vote. This may seem democratic, but to me the main aim of representation is fairness. Now, to me this ain't fair, especially when 77% of the public didn't want blair as PM. (also take into account this only includes those who vested trust in the voting system). That's why people think we are controlled or whatever, it's because this system allows for a way in which a great deal of us aren't represented. Don't get me started on the whole two-party monopoly. I mean come on in a population of 60 million there's only to two candidates for the top job. come on!

Fear not my friends there is an answer that removes this unfair monopoly of British politics (and its not anarchy or revolution), it is proportional representation, where the number of national votes is proportional to the number of seats given to each party. Anyway, look it up there are pro's and con's to both but its the fair one that should be the best one, right?

Step up the pressure and write to your MP (if you know who they are) and ask them this question. Why is proportional representation not adopted in the UK?

For too long have we been factured into faction of left and right, only to be played by both sides. Tell me whats the difference between Thatcher and Blair?

Sorry before you mention it i know this Yahoo Answers, but i can't stop with the questions. Neither should you! Rock on

Answer 4

Their is no such thing as democracy "government of the people by the people".
The UK is a nation governed by laws, most of which we were not consulted on and did not vote for.
The politicians believe they know what is best for the people regardless even in the face of protests and marches, the people have little or no voice.

Answer 5

In the UK, the Prime Minister isn't directly elected. A lot of Americans don't realize that.

No confidence votes, keep the leaders on their toes.

I'd rather have our system of Democracy where the leader is directly elected.

Answer 6

We don’t live in a democracy, we live in a Republic.
The definition of democracy is; two wolfs and a lamb voting on what is for dinner, majority rules, as Ben Franklin said, “we have a republic, if we can keep it”

Answer 7

We used to but under Bliar it's all been taken away from us. We now live in a state controlled society where it can lead to arrest if you rev up your car in a racist manner as one motorist has found. We stand accused of having racist thoughts if we look at an ethnic and they don't like it. We are watched by CCTV where ever we are. Need I go on??

Answer 8

id rather have a peoples republic with no overall leader and all decisions made by the people through a refferendum system.

Answer 9

Ha ha ha ha LOL ....ooooh feck me. DEMOCRACY??? You're only foolin' yerself mate.

Oh thats a cracker. I will be sore for ages.