What are your thoughts on this statement made by Plato as it pertains to the U.S.?

Question

It is better to be ruled by a tyrant (since then there is only one person committing bad deeds). than a bad democracy (since here all the people are now responsible for such actions)

Pertaining in terms of how people elect the President and those in Congress to represent them

Answer 1

Plato's statement was only a preface to what he thought was the best system of all, the philosopher king. There is no doubt that having one person run things is more efficient, but unless it's a wise, selfless person it leads to tyranny. A philosopher king would be the best of both worlds. But in any case, I disagree with Plato. If we have a bad tyrant, we're stuck with him unless we rise up in armed revolt. In a democracy, we can get rid of the bad leader in the next election.

Answer 2

And how about the tyrant at the heart of a democracy?

This could be the fear of a lot of people.
But,in electing and selecting a person at the "head" of
an organisation such as a political party,the risk is that
when in power that person has carte blanch to act as
they please(like a tyrant).
But this applies to the whole group too- the Group can
become like tyrants; its a risk that is assumed and taken.
And we live in a mass majority rule democratic system.
A healthy criticism of this may lead to better changes;we
also should have open discussion,criticism of our
cherished and closed views,and a willingness to compromise;even a compromise that things may
not get better in the short term(but Not-to-stop working
for the better or good).

Answer 3

Interesting question...

I think in many cases one comes from the other, so its a problem shared by both the people and the tyrant.

In regards to the topic of your choice, elections, I know as fact that there are people who vote for the wrong reasons. Completely ignorant of the facts, they choose to elect people based on superficial and silly things, therefore leading to the suffering of the whole country on behalf of their own ignorance. Perhaps those who do such a thing deserve to suffer the consequences, but for the whole of the country? I dont think so.

So in the end, perhaps Plato was missing the point since it is the people who suffer based on their own ignorance...

Answer 4

Plato is right. the person that commits the bad deeds is some kind of example for others: what not to do..., while in a bad democracy, people cannot make the distinction between good and bad. i can't refer to the USA because i'm from Europe and i don't know much about its political system.

Answer 5

It cannot pertain to the US.