If we live in a true democracy why are our opinions ignored by leading politicians?

Question

As we continue to lose our fighting men in Iraq in what is basically a civil war which we entered under false pretenses why won`t our leaders recognize the vast majority of Americans want this to end and our men and women Home? It seems that this war continues not through reason but which side of the political aisle our elected leaders sit. Americans voted for leadership which whould reflect the opinions af the voters.Once elected these leaders fail to gather the facts that this war is a religious civil war promoted by an overzealous few who are not leaders.What can be done to acheive a truly democratic leadership reflecting the will of the people?

Answer 1

We don't live in a democracy...we are a republic in the Unitied States...we chose who will chose for us but we don't get the actual choice.

Answer 2

When Benjamin Franklin came out of the Constitutional Convention in 1797, as the story goes, he was asked by a woman who was sitting there, Mr. Franklin, what have you given us? This quote is in the front of many copies of the Constitution. His answer was, a republic, madam, if you can keep it, a republic.
But I thought we have a democracy. I don't know if we cite that Pledge of Allegiance just from rote and never think about what it says. But you remember those words in there, the republic for which it stands, not the democracy, but the republic for which it stands. What is the difference between a republic and a democracy and why did Benjamin Franklin make a point of telling this lady, a republic, madam, if you can keep it?
Let me give you a couple of examples of a democracy that will help you understand why he didn't say that they had given us a democracy. An example of a democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what they are going to have for dinner. You may smile a little because you know that if two wolves and a lamb are voting on what you are going to have for dinner, it is not going to be clover.
Another sample, and this is a very sad example, but if you think about it, this is really an apt example of a democracy, and that is a lynch mob. Because, clearly, in a lynch mob the will of the majority is being expressed, and that is what people say democracy is, that the majority rules.
So what is a republic? There is an incident in our history that helps me understand the difference between a republic and a democracy, and this happened during the Truman administration. The steel mills were going on strike, our economy was already in trouble, and it was going to be in bigger trouble if that strike occurred. Then we did some manufacturing, and we made some steel, and it mattered. Today, it probably wouldn't matter, because so little manufacturing in steel is made here, but it mattered then.
Harry Truman in his take-charge style issued an executive order, one of only two, by the way, that the Supreme Court has set aside. What he said in that executive order was that he nationalized the steel mills that made the steel mill workers civil servants, employees of the government. As employees to the government, they couldn't strike.
That was a very popular action that had very high approval from the American people. In a democracy, that
would have been just fine. But the Supreme Court met in an emergency session and, in effect, what they said, Mr. President, no matter how popular that is, you cannot do it because it violates the Constitution.
You see, the fundamental difference between a democracy and a republic is a rule of law. In a democracy, what the majority wants prevails. In a republic, it is a rule of law that prevails

Source(s):
Then the last half of that statement, if you can keep it, I wonder what was in Benjamin Franklin's head, in his mind. Was he concerned about threats from outside our country? We were a long ocean away with sailing ships from any potential enemy. I doubt that his concern was a threat from without. I think that he was more concerned about a threat from within, a republic, madam, if you can keep it.

Answer 3

We don't really live in a 'true' democracy. We live in what most refer to as a representative democracy, meaning we vote and elect people we want to best represent our interests at the local, state, and national levels.

That said, I would agree with others here that our governments have been co-opted by corporate interests and corporate welfare. When the US government determined that corporations had the same rights as people (in 1886), things began going down the tubes. Basically it put individuals and corporations on equal ground, except that corporations usually have deeper pockets and more lawyers than you or I. Since the late 19th century our governments have kowtowed to big business - much to the dismay and detriment of the rest of society.

The first step to get some type of working democracy back is to repeal that fuggin' 1886 case (can't recall the name of the case here - maybe someone can help). After that is done, honestly I have no clue.

Answer 4

People get the government they want.

Most voters in the last election voted for Bush. And the President has the constitutional authority to continue this war.

I know that many Americans feel that their views are being ignored here, but lets not forget that the views of a huge number of Americans are being represented through the Bush administration.

If Bush had never been elected, we'd be saying that millions of Americans would like to see the USA get tough in the middle east.

In short, I am saying that the opinions of millions of people ARE being represented by politicians. But, unfortuneatly, those opinions come from people who are greedy and misinformed.

Answer 5

We don't live in a pure democracy.

We live in a democratic republic. Which means we vote to elect leaders, who then make the decisions for us.

And it's amazing -- when the leaders actually do what the majority of Americans want, they get attacked for being Anti-American by whoever lost.

How can we possibly claim to be able to spread democracy (in any form) throughout the world when we can barely practice it ourselves despite 230 years of practice.

Answer 6

I agree with profcastark about the corporations. I also think it would help if we had a feature that some parliamentary governments have: a vote of "no confidence." That's similar to a recall vote, but on a large scale (i.e., the national level.)

Answer 7

it isn't conceited. human beings teach their evaluations each 2, 4 or 6 years for the time of elections at the same time as they vote so each body needs to have some form of opinion. i imagine ordinary human beings comprehend that politicians are also human beings and could make blunders and performance biases or evaluations. also, human beings comprehend that in each situation there is in all likelihood a suitable way a incorrect way and options in between and for the most area (no longer each and each of the time) authorities operates someplace in between.

Answer 8

The greatest argument against democracy is a five minute a conversation with the average voter.
- Winston Churchill

Answer 9

They have allowed our nation to be overrun by illegal aliens, they don’t care that 85% of Americans said hell no to amnesty in any form. The time has come for Americans to take up arms against our government and retake what’s rightfully ours!

Answer 10

We live in a representative democracy. we elect leaders to make decisions. it's not government by opinion polls.