what is democracy?

Answer 1

As told by dictionary.com, democracy is:

1. government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
2. a state having such a form of government: The United States and Canada are democracies.
3. a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges.
4. political or social equality; democratic spirit.
5. the common people of a community as distinguished from any privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power.

Answer 2

A democracy is a government based on majority rule. What ever the majority decides is the law.

A lynch mob is a good example of a democracy. When the lynch mob catches the suspect, the will of the majority prevails. The suspect hangs.

In a republic, like the United States, the will of the majority is restrained by the Constitution. The rights of the minority are protected.

Unfortunately, the public schools have been spreading the lie that the US is a democracy. If you read the US Constitution, you will find that the federal government guarantees every state a republican for of government (Article 4, Section 4).

When you hear a teacher of politician call the US a democracy, correct him or her. When you pledge allegiance to the flag, it is to the Republic (under God), that you pledge, not the democracy.

And of course, the song: Battle Hymn of the Republic (not democracy)

Answer 3

Look around this country and see how it is ruled, Democracy is pretty much the opposite. Before all the Bush lovers go crazy, let me make it clear this is not a shot only at Bush, the American people have not had a say in how things are done in a very long time, well before he took office.
In a Democracy, the people are supposed to have a say about things. It is not meant to be some dude who thinks he knows what is right for us just sitting comfortably in his nice office spitting out orders with no regard to how it will effect the people he supposedly represents.
We elect leaders Democratically, but once they take office, all Democracy is right out the door.

Answer 4

Democracy is an illusion manifested by the ruling elite in order to give the masses a false sense of security. The idea of liberal democracy is excellent and revolutionary but it has very little meaning to reality. Thomas Jefferson once said “the issue today has been the same throughout history, whether man shall be governed by a small elite or by the people”.
The democratic rule of law suggests that we are all equal before the eyes of the law (this concept is known as legal egalitarianism). However war criminal such as Donald Rumsfield has never been trialled in the Hague (international criminal courts) for authorising the use of torture against detainees, which is a violation of the universal declaration of human rights under article 51 “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Also the use of depleted uranium that has left may Iraqi infants being unnecessarily born with physical defects. Let us not discuss Muslim states because they have been portrayed as primitive evil society that non can sympathise with (except for intellects) by the media, which is ironic. Let us focus on the cradle of democracy in Europe during the late 1960’s. The people of Greece were being subjected to torture and killings. According to the author William Blum ‘killing hope’ (2004,common courage press) the overthrow of the democratically elected Papandreou government was a collaborative effort between the royal courts, the Greek military, the American military and the central intelligence agency (C.I.A) based in Greece. The situation in Greece was no doubt a violation of human rights as prescribed under the universal declaration of human rights, article 51. The Unites States government has mostly been portrayed as a nation of democracy and freedom, which brings the question forth did they know that they were supporting a military regime that would happily use torture as a common practice? An amnesty international report was also cited by the author. “James Beckett, an American attorney sent to Greece by amnesty international…Becket reported that some torturers had told prisoners that some of their equipment had come as US military aid: a special ‘thick white double cable’ whip was one item; another was the head screw, known as an iron wreath, which was progressively tightened around the head and ears…numerous incidents of sexually oriented torture: shoving fingers or an object into the vagina and twisting and tearing brutally; also done with the anus; or a tube is inserted into the anus and water driven in under very high pressure.” William Blum (2004, pg219)
James Beckets report evidently provides a direct link of torturers being provided with torture equipment by the US government. The brutal techniques stated above, which were used by the military were not the worst no matter how vile it sounds. Amnesty internationals report stated that several victims were told their torture equipment was supplied by the US military. Hence the US government (not the poor manipulated ppl of the U.S) must have known the equipment that was given to the Greek military would have inevitably been used for torture. The main purpose of this coup was for the U.S government to exercise control, which the same thing can be said during the late 1970’s when the CIA assisted Saddam Hussein to assassinate Abdul Karim Qasim in order to gain power (or even south America, Africa, Asia the U.S they have a poor human rights record through assiting dictators gaining power). American foreign policy contradicts the core principles of human right policies and liberal democracy, which is the main reason why these so called terrorist in south America, asia and Africa exist.

Answer 5

A form of government. It may be pure (or direct) democracy in which the people meet and make laws themselves. Or it may be a representative (or indirect) democracy where the people choose someone to represent them and make laws for them. Democracies are different from each other, but they are all characterized by free elections.

Answer 6

A government of the people and by the people. The U.S. is NOT a democracy. It's a military-industrial complex.

Answer 7

A Democracy is where the Citizens have a say in what goes on. he Citizen is the ruler of a Democracy. They elect Representatives to act in there behalf and do there bidding.

Answer 8

Though democratic principles are important, so are restraints and limitations on government. Democracy is two lions and a lamb deciding what's for supper, or the worst form of government except all the others.

Answer 9

a democracy is a type of government in which the people govern themselves.

Answer 10

A)

It's a form of dictatorship where the people who run for office lie in every conceivable way to get there, once there they do pretty much what they want, and try to get away with as much as possible, whilst lying all the time.

B)

It's a form of dictatorship where 51% of the adult population who actually vote control the rest.