What's so great about democracy?

Question

It seems like democracy is nothing more than mob rule - the majority of people decide what is best for the minority, even if those decisions are oppressive. Shouldn't people be free to make their own decisions, as long as they do not harm others?

Harming others refers to physical harm or any type of force imposed against peaceful people. Government generally requires the use of force against people to achieve its goals, whether it be physical force (wars) or economic force (taxation).

How is decision making imposed by mob rule? The mob elects the politicians that tell you how you can or cannot live your life. Ex. If the majority in your county vote to increase taxes to fund public education, you are forced to pay it, even if you do not have kids. In essence, the majority is imposing their will against the minority for their own personal benefit - at the expense of the minority.

Slavery was a majority rule decision as well. A majority of states would not approve the Articles of Confederation unless slavery remained legal in the eyes of the new American government.

Answer 1

Try living without it and you will see.

Answer 2

In a pure Democracy every person votes on every thing. You have to have some form of Government to determine what is legal and illegal for the people to do, otherwise it is chaos (look at Somalia), Where there is no Government criminals usually take power. With this you can't make every individual happy, but in a Democracy the majority can at least have their way. If mankind as a whole was honest, caring and peaceful there would be no need for Government. Unfortunately that is not the case, so it is necessary to have a ruling body to tell us what we can't do and punish those who do not obey, while adhering to what they majority see fit.

Answer 3

The founding fathers asked these questions. Thomas Jefferson (stemming from John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau) knew that a majority rule was not always in a government's best interest. Just to clarify, America is not a democracy, but a democratic-republic. We elect public officials to make enlightened decisions on the public's behalf. They are supposed to protect the liberty you mention--to make your own decisions. In what way is your decision-making influenced by a mob-rule??

Answer 4

Perhaps I'm wrong but you seem to be advocating anarchy- not in the caricatured "let's go riot and loot" sense, but in the idealistic "self-determination and lack of formal controls" one. While I would love to live in a world wherein that was possible, the sad fact of the matter is that it isn't, never was, and never could be. It's a Utopian concept that has no basis in reality. Democracy is therefore the least imperfect system around, as flawed and full of contradictions as it admittedly is.

Answer 5

The U.S. is actually a Constitutional republic, not a democracy per se.

This is very good, because if liberals become the majority, the Constitution will protect us from their insane mob rule.

Answer 6

Its not mob rule its majority.The biggest problem is that a lot of people are ignorant and just vote for what feels good.That would be the liberals.

Answer 7

The minorities are represented very effectively in this country - perhaps a tad better than the majority at times.

Answer 8

Define harm - but define harm for everyone.

You can't, and that's your answer.

You might also want to check Churchill on democracy.

Besides, the US claims to be a constitutional republic, but it's deteriorated into an intellectual dictatorship.

Answer 9

Democratic Republic - freedom of speech.
life , liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Socialistic Republic - Put other political parties in jail and stop
freedom of speech
Monarchy - Kings decide what you do. And if you live.

Dictatorship - No freedom

Answer 10

We have freedom. How could we live without democracy.