Government question - I think democracy is stupid?

Question

Do ants vote for one another to run their hill?

What if they vote for a stupid ant and he messes everything up?

50% of the ants around me are "below average". Why do they get to decide my future?

Doesnt it make more sense to have in place a a system (queen) thats designed to govern the colony - and that does a great job at it?

If you dont understand my analogy - please dont answer.

Ok - lets clear this up

I much rather have a group of PH.D's running my country than "democrats" and "repubs" all fighting for power.

You guys obviously dont ******* understand. Jesus its like talking to a wall.

Answer 1

Isn't it amazing how in a free society you're allowed to feel that way without repercussions?

If you actually understood the American system you would see that our founding fathers already planned for that. We aren't a democracy, we are a constitutional republic. The "stupid masses" elect representatives, who are their betters, to promote ideas and protect their interests for them. The checks and balances of split up powers allow things to run smoothly even if they "elect someone stupid and he meses everything up".

Also, unless you're the man on top, there will always be someone "deciding your future".

Having said that, get bent.

Answer 2

Yes, I understand your analogy. The whole trouble is that your analogy is false. Ants are born into this world with a queen as the ruler of their colony and will die with the same circumstances. They have no say about what the queen is to be like or anything but what is programmed for them to do all their lives. One ant does not have a chance of becoming wealthier than the others, nor will he become poorer. So the ant that runs their hill is not necessarily their choice. Humans, on the other hand have what is known as the power to reason. Many nations in the human world have no control over who their ruler will be, how long he will be their ruler, what they will do for a living or if they will be able to live. Some other humans have a system of laws in place that guide them in their choice of nominating and electing their rulers. The ruler they elect is bound to legal guidelines and his performance determines if he can serve more time as a ruler because these humans that elected him once may not elect him again. Now, there are humans within the group that THINK they are God's gift to humanity and that the others are inferior to them and resent some of the rulers that were elected by law. Sad, but those smug and aloof, smart know it alls have to live with the rulers elected because that is the law. It would be impossible to have a ruler in reserve to run in as a substitute if the existing ruler is unsatisfactory to some because there is no guarantee the substitute would do any better.Also, to get an accurate reading to how many people were displeased with the ruler, another elction would need to be held for that purpose. I do not know if I took care of all your points in your analogy but if I didn't, it was only an oversight on my part. Also, if you do not understand my analogy, just don't vote my answer as the best answer. I'll understand why it is not.

Answer 3

Great analogy, except the spots where it sucks, which is everywhere.

Ants aren't intelligent species, and are under the direct control of the queen. If you want it that way, great. Call a lobotomist and have your brain removed.

If half the ants are "below average", where does that place you? I scored a 1450 on the SATs in 8th grade. Should I be President?

Heres a nice final touch for you're analogy. When the big, bad exterminator comes along, which can think by itself, what does he do?

If you dont understand that analogy, Heres some help. The exterminator isn't a communist country.

Answer 4

Your system only works if the monarch (queen, king, whatever) is benevolent. If they are, it can indeed work very well. If they're not, things degrade into tyranny pretty quickly, and the people get trampled. Do you think the queen ant cares of a couple hundred "foot soldiers" die trying to bring in some food? Nope, she's got dozens more to go out and get food tomorrow, no skin off her antennae :)

Don't worry, though -- if you live in the US, you don't live in a true democracy. In a true democracy, the leader is directly elected by the people -- not so in the US (remember that pesky electoral college thing, and 2000 when Gore won the popular vote but lost the election?). You live in a representative republic, not a democracy. Makes it somewhat amusing, does it not, when we spread "democracy" around the world but don't even have it at home? ;-)

Answer 5

If you understand is the question? Mob rule is better known as democracy. How do you know if the ant vote or not? I have seen a photograph of an ant pow wow, taken by a naturalist. We in the great experiment, have a represtative republic based on democratic principles.

Answer 6

This is why there are checks and balances by having multiple branches of government (in the US). But, if they do not check each other, then the system will fail.

Did you know that 75% of people think they are above average? And, that 65% of statistics are made up. :)

Answer 7

It's fun and self-gratifying to look down you nose at all those stupid ants, isn't it?

"Almost the only people who are convinced of the advantages of being run by philosopher-kings ... are a few philosophers." (I can't remember who said that. It was quoted in "Democracy and Distrust," by John Hart Ely, who wasn't the one who originally said it.)

"If you don't understand my analogy, ................"

Huh! How smug can you get?

Answer 8

I think that you should move to a place like China, Iran, or North Korea. Then you would be better able to create a real analogy!

Answer 9

yeah, you are clearly right-wing and think you are one of the "above average".

with an iq of 154, i guess i am more "above average" than you, and what would you say if i ruled and said people who are less intelligent than me should not have the rights i do?

you are a good example of the dumb element of the right-wing. anti-democratic, but not clever enough to mask the sentiment.

we are human and have a shared culture and language. that should be used for the benefit of all, not just those like you whose daddy is relatively well-off. if you'd been born poor in a developing country ghetto, you wouldn't have made it out alive.

Answer 10

Actually it isn't without democracy you wouldn't be able to express the question above, or basically anything without government officials consent.